Tyrell Malacia’s time at Manchester United has been far from straightforward, with a promising debut season quickly overshadowed by a series of unfortunate setbacks, primarily injuries. While his first year was filled with potential, it’s been a downhill trajectory since, and he’s struggled to replicate the form that initially earned him his move to Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag, who brought Malacia to the club, recently defended his decision to sign the Dutch left-back in an interview with Voetbal International. The United manager explained that Malacia was an exciting young prospect when he joined the club, having made a significant impact at Feyenoord and even earning a spot in the Dutch national team. Ten Hag emphasized that Malacia was given the necessary time to adapt to the demands of the Premier League, which is no easy feat for any young player.
“Tyrell was a young and very promising footballer at the time,” said Ten Hag. “He had made a big impression at Feyenoord as an up-and-coming left-back and had already made it to the Dutch national team.”
He continued, noting that while Malacia was aware of the tough competition for a starting spot, with Luke Shaw, one of the best left-backs in the world, ahead of him in the pecking order, the young defender was given his chances to prove himself. “Shaw was also not able to perform at his full potential the entire season due to a serious injury, so Tyrell would play a lot of matches and that turned out to be the case.”
Ten Hag acknowledged the challenges Malacia faced, especially with Shaw’s injury limiting the established full-back’s appearances. Despite the hurdles, Ten Hag believes Malacia performed admirably during his first season in Manchester, reflecting the numbers and contributions typical of a young player finding his feet at a top club.
“Those are of course excellent numbers for a young player in his first season. Tyrell simply did well that first year,” said Ten Hag.
However, the situation took a turn for the worse in subsequent seasons. After a promising start, Malacia’s development was stunted by recurring injuries, and his confidence and form began to fade. While Ten Hag held out hope for his recovery, the arrival of Ruben Amorim as the new manager in November 2024 seemed to signal a shift in Malacia’s future at the club. Despite Ten Hag’s encouragement, Amorim was reportedly less convinced by the Dutchman’s ability to regain his former level.
Malacia’s struggles at United have been compounded by the increased competition in the full-back positions, with Shaw’s return to form and new signings further pushing him down the depth chart. Under Amorim’s tactical setup, which places a greater emphasis on defensive stability and attacking full-backs, Malacia never seemed to fit the bill.
With the club’s injury issues continuing to mount and the pressure on Amorim to deliver results, Malacia found himself out of favor. As his time at United continues, it remains uncertain if he can rediscover the potential that once made him one of Europe’s most exciting young left-backs.
For now, Ten Hag can only hope that Malacia’s best days aren’t behind him, but the lack of trust from his new manager may ultimately decide his fate at Old Trafford.
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