The Red Devils announced Malacia as their first signing of the 2022 summer transfer window earlier this month.
Malacia signed a four-year deal until 2026 and is believed to have set United back €15m plus €2m in add-ons.
The full-back has since settled in nicely and has already begun to garner minutes at left-back for the Red Devils.
The Dutchman started for United vs Crystal Palace earlier this week and was instrumental in setting up a well-worked Anthony Martial goal.
Malacia found himself on the edge of the Palace box before switching play to fellow full-back Diogo Dalot, who picked out Martial with an excellent looping ball.
Now, speaking to Sky Sports, Malacia agreed that he was in effect being asked to play as an extra midfielder. He said: “Yeah, that’s what the coach wants from me and at my former club, I played the same style so for me it’s easier to fit into this system.”
Malacia also outlined how Ten Hag was in frequent dialogue with him in the build-up to his switch to United: “I spoke to him a lot, two or three times,” he said.
“We had some good conversations about football, about myself and about him. Also about how he sees me which was an important thing for me in joining the club.”
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