Arne Slot has pointed out Manchester United issue Erik ten Hag has not solved

Tyrell Malacia will likely go throughout the whole 2023/24 season without kicking a ball.

The left-back has faced setbacks in his recovery from surgery for a serious knee injury and Manchester United have lost 12 months’ service from his four-year contract as a result. Erik ten Hag ended Sergio Reguilon’s loan early after believing Malacia would be back by January.

It’s difficult to know where he stands within United’s system, aside from certainly being back-up to Luke Shaw, who himself has missed 32 matches this season. It’s even more uncertain what future he has at the club should Ten Hag be replaced.

ALSO READ: United fail to silence negative opinions in the stands

ALSO READ: Lineker reaction to United game sums up big problem

Malacia was Ten Hag’s first signing as United boss, arriving from Arne Slot’s Feyenoord in 2022 having seen him close up while Ajax boss. Whether the two managers line go head-to-head in the dugout again next season is unclear, but Slot looks set for a rival club once more, this time Liverpool.

Slot made an observation about Malacia prior to his switch two years ago. "This season, we have the ball more as a team, so he now needs to be prepared for any counterattack. He's doing this well,” Slot said.

“I do see him taunt opponents a bit too much. Almost showing too much of the ball, to get them to bite. At times, it's too much. He looks a bit complacent, arrogant even, at times. I talk to him about that."

We can, obviously, only judge Malacia from his first season but the 24-year-old perhaps failed to rid that out of his system given he was dropped for Shaw after briefly usurping his colleague during the first half of last term.

One moment that contributed towards this was a performance