Aston Villa FC v Manchester United FC - Premier League
Former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag (Picture: Getty)
Erik ten Hag says he hopes the ‘misery is over’ for Manchester United defender Tyrell Malacia following his move to PSV.
Ten Hag brought Malacia to Old Trafford in the summer of 2022, spending £15m to sign the Netherlands international from Feyenoord.
Malacia featured regularly for the Red Devils during his first season at the club – making 39 appearances in all competitions – but missed the entire 2023-24 campaign through injury.
The 25-year-old found himself on the periphery when he returned from the treatment room under Ten Hag’s replacement Amorim.
Amorim sanctioned Malacia’s departure during the January transfer and while a move to Benfica fell through, the left-back then joined Dutch side PSV on loan until the end of the season.
Ten Hag says it is a ‘shame’ for both Malacia and Manchester United that he struggled with injuries and hopes he can revive his career in Holland.
‘It’s a shame for him and also for United that things went wrong afterwards and that two operations were needed instead of one,’ Ten Hag, who was sacked in November, told Voetbal International.
PSV v Willem II Tilburg - Eredivisie
Tyrell Malacia joined PSV on loan in January (Picture: Getty)
‘Hopefully for him all the misery is over, and he can focus again on getting completely fit and playing matches.
‘It is especially important that Tyrell now continues to make the right choices. In the attacking game that Peter Bosz wants to play, he must be able to handle his qualities well.
‘Tyrell is a defender that is good in the structure if he can play inverted, When he comes on the inside. He is good at the ball and can manage well in the small space.
PSV Eindhoven v Willem II Tilburg - Dutch Eredivisie 2024-25
Netherlands international Malacia in action for PSV (Picture: Getty)
‘These are all things he needs in PSV football. A bit like Dest also plays. Standing up and then going over it on the outside, he can, but he misses a bit of the real power, the content and a good last pass for it.’
Following his move away from Old Trafford, Malacia said: ‘I’m happy to be here. Finally playing good football again.
‘I am coming off a long injury, but by now I am fit and know that my time will come again.
Manchester United FC v Crystal Palace FC - Premier League
Ruben Amorim was happy for Malacia to leave in January (Picture: Getty)
‘In every tough period there are also positive elements and in this case that is that I have become much stronger physically and mentally.
‘I have more patience, am more mature, know my body better and things like that. I’m ready to pop and hopefully win several prizes with PSV.’
Former PSV boss Dick Advocaat, meanwhile, believes Manchester United have let a ‘real winner’ leave in his former Feyenoord star Malacia.
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Erik ten Hag was sacked in November (Picture: Getty)
‘I know that he hasn’t played for Manchester United for almost a year and a half, but this boy has a good head,’ he told Voetbal International.
‘Foppe de Haan (Dutch coach) always says: “He has a good head”. But I put it a bit nicer. At Feyenoord I saw that he is made of the right stuff.
‘When I was there, it was a bit more difficult financially and we had a lot of young players. But boys like Orkun Kokcu, Lutsharel Geertruida and also Malacia handled that very well.
‘Real professionals who really wanted to make it. They came from the youth team, came into the team and stayed. They did great.
‘I am convinced of that: Tyrell is a real winner. As a trainer I didn’t have to say too much to him.’
Manchester United were just 14th in the Premier League when Ten Hag lost his job in November.
There has been virtually no signs of progress under Amorim, however, with United currently 13th ahead of this weekend’s clash against Tottenham.
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