Erik ten Hag has warned Harry Maguire he must prove he is good enough to merit a regular spot in the heart of Manchester United's defence.
Maguire endured a difficult campaign both on and off the field last season, leading to suggestions David de Gea or Cristiano Ronaldo would take over as United captain.
However, Ten Hag clarified at a news conference during United's pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia that the England international will continue to wear the armband.
That was considered a huge vote of confidence for Maguire, though he now faces additional competition for a starting place with Lisandro Martinez on his way from Ajax.
United have reached a £56.5million (€67m) agreement with the Eredivisie champions for Martinez, who can play in a number of positions but favours playing as a left-sided centre-back.
That would naturally see him play alongside Raphael Varane, with Victor Lindelof also battling for a spot at the back.
While Ten Hag has reiterated he is a fan of Maguire's, the Dutchman is not offering his skipper any assurances heading into the new campaign.
"We have good centre-halves and Harry is one of them. He can play on the left side and on the right," Ten Hag told The Athletic.
"I think he is [a first-choice player]. He's proved it in the past but he also has to prove it in the present time and in the future.
"He has played 46 times for England. Harry is really impressive and I expect a lot from him.
"But there is also internal competition and that is what a club like Man United needs. You cannot win with 11 players. We need a squad.
"Especially this season with so many games. We have the Europa League, the Premier League and the World Cup, so we need a full squad with high-quality players."
Maguire is about to begin his fourth season as a United player after joining from Leicester City in an £80m transfer in 2019, making him the world's most expensive defender.
The 29-year-old has made 144 appearances for United, which is 11 more than next-highest Marcus Rashford during his time at Old Trafford.
However, he started only 75.5 per cent of games in all competitions last season, compared to 85.2 per cent the previous campaign and 90.2 in the 2019-20 season.
Asked about his decision to continue with Maguire as captain, Ten Hag said: "I always see the captaincy as an issue that I dictate.
"The team building for me is an important point and I always talk about a group of leaders. The captain is a really important one and I'm happy with him.
"It can help [give him more confidence]. I will support him everywhere I can. In the end, he has to do it by himself, and he has the qualities to do it."
Maguire was not the only United player who struggled last season, with the Red Devils recording their lowest-ever Premier League points tally (58) and finishing in sixth.
United have won their opening two pre-season friendlies under Ten Hag, against Liverpool and Melbourne Victory, and the new boss is eager to restore his players' confidence.
"You can see that it affects the players. Now we have to cheer them up and motivate them," he said. "We are trying to bring the confidence back.
"That's one of the important points to get success, that you have self-belief as an individual and as a team. That is a process, individual talks for instance, the positive approach.
"Sometimes also you can be highly demanding because that is what we expect and we give them feedback. If they don't, you ask: 'Why are you not acting to your standards?'.
"I want to get the maximum out of the players who are here. I think it belongs to Manchester that you're always looking for better, for competition, because that is a tool to lift, too."
Al-Khaleej 0-1 Al-Nassr: Ronaldo misfires on return as Laporte nets winner
Cristiano Ronaldo returned from suspension but failed to find the net as Al-Nassr secured a 1-0 win over Al-Khaleej on Saturday, with Aymeric Laporte coming up with the decisive goal.
Ronaldo was in action for the first time since being sent off for an elbow in a 2-1 Saudi Super Cup loss to Al-Hilal earlier this month, with his initial two-match ban being reduced to one on appeal.
He missed three good chances as Al-Nassr threatened to fall further behind runaway Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal, but former Manchester City defender Laporte spared his blushes by nodding Marcelo Brozovic's deep free-kick into the bottom-left corner with 68 minutes gone.
Al-Nassr remain nine points adrift of Al-Hilal at the summit in spite of their win, with Jorge Jesus' team unbeaten through 28 games this season as they close in on a record-extending 18th title.
Data Debrief: Ronaldo misfires on return
Ronaldo was presented with the Saudi Pro League's Player of the Month award for March ahead of kick-off, having scored four goals in three league appearances last month.
However, his sights were off on Saturday as he failed to net despite three of the visitors' four big chances, as defined by Opta, falling his way. He led all players on the pitch for expected goals (1.27 xG), shots (five), shots on target (three) and touches in the area (nine) without reward.
Huddersfield all but relegated from Championship while League Two play-off spots decided
Huddersfield Town saw their relegation from the Championship all but confirmed after a 1-1 draw with fellow strugglers Birmingham City on Saturday.
The Terriers avoided a defeat that would have seen them relegated on Saturday, but even a win on the final day over promotion hopefuls Ipswich Town will not be enough unless they overcome a huge goal difference of 15 goals with Plymouth Argyle.
Birmingham remain in the other relegation place and now must beat Norwich City to stand a chance of staying up with Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth and Blackburn Rovers also still in danger.
At the other end of the table, the Canaries dropped points in a 2-2 draw with Swansea City, leaving the door open for Hull City, who face Ipswich Town later today.
Ten Hag bemoans late Burnley equaliser - 'It's so unnecessary'
Erik ten Hag was left frustrated as Manchester United "gave it away" against a spirited Burnley, who held them to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils were on course to claim all three points when Antony pounced on Sander Berge's error to open the scoring in the 79th minute, as they looked to close the gap on fifth-place Tottenham to four points.
However, the hosts could not hold on as Andre Onana was penalised for a foul on Zeki Amdouni, who picked himself up to level from the penalty spot and salvage a point for the visitors three minutes from time.
Ten Hag was made to rue his side's wastefulness as they converted just one of their 27 shots on goal throughout the contest.
"We put ourselves in a winning position and, over long courses of the game, we dominated," he told the BBC. "We played some good football - creating loads of chances - and then to give it away in the end in the final minutes, it's so unnecessary.
"Every team gives up opportunities. But, when it is up to us, it is weird. We created loads of chances as well. We are one of the most dynamic and entertaining teams in the league at this moment. We are creating loads of chances by playing good football.
"We lost control in the second part of the first half when we conceded some chances, but the rest of the game was ours. We were in a winning position, and we gave it away."
Meanwhile, Vincent Kompany saluted the character demonstrated by Burnley, who boosted their Premier League survival hopes by moving to within two points of safety with three games remaining.
"We are where we are in the league for a reason, so not everything can be perfect, but the mentality was perfect - the togetherness, the sacrifice for each other," the Clarets boss said.
"There is tremendous consistency in the club and the approach to each game, even in tough times. We've earned the right to believe and hope."
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