Manchester United’s manager, Erik Ten Hag, addressed the recent defensive lineup choices in a press conference. The Dutchman explained the limited use of Varane, stating, “Con Varane non ho alcun tipo di problema, nessuno.” (With Varane, I don’t have any kind of problem, none.) Ten Hag emphasized that the current defensive lineup is a result of tactical reasons, saying, “Ho scelto questa difesa per ragioni tattiche.” (I chose this defense for tactical reasons.) He also highlighted the competition within the team, stating, “Lo scorso anno giocavano Varane e Maguire stava in panchina, ora Harry sta giocando molto bene ed è normale ci sia competizione interna.” (Last year, Varane was playing and Maguire was on the bench, now Harry is playing very well and it’s normal to have internal competition.) This sheds light on the manager’s decision-making process and provides insight into the dynamics of the team’s defensive choices.