Harry Maguire spoke to the English press in the mixed zone after Man United’s 1-0 victory over Luton Town at Old Trafford.
Harry Maguire feels vindicated by staying at Manchester United now he is their first-choice centre-back again.
Maguire helped United to another 1-0 win against Luton
Maguire started his eighth consecutive game for United in the 1-0 Premier League win over Brighton, having been available for transfer in the summer.
United accepted a £30million offer from West Ham United but Maguire rejected United’s pay-off of £6m as recompense for a shortfall in wages.The 30-year-old has regained his place in recent weeks and is manager Erik ten Hag’s preferred centre half on the right side of defence over Raphael Varane.
When asked if his form had vindicated his decision to remain at United, Maguire said: “Of course. I obviously played a few games last year, 16 or 17 I think it was – starts. And I actually felt like I performed really well in the games that I played in, I just didn’t play as many as I would have liked.
“But, on the other hand, Rapha and Licha (Martinez) were playing brilliantly and keeping numerous clean sheets so I had to bide my time, I had to be patient.
Maguire has started the last eight games
“I had two or three opportunities last year to get a run of games in and actually broke down with illness, broke down twice with injuries. So I never got the rhythm, never got the run of games that I could prove myself to the manager. I’ve got that now.
“I played the last I don’t know how many games and I really enjoy my football and really enjoy playing for this club. So, yeah, I was willing to stay and fight for my place.
“We’ve got, I believe, four or five top international centre-backs at the club and the competition for places is really hard.”
Although Maguire only started 16 times for United last term, he believes his form was consistent. United won 12 of the 16 games Maguire lined up in, though only eight were in the Premier League and there were crushing defeats to Brentford and Sevilla.
Maguire insists his win percentage provided confidence as he strove to win his place back. “I think your experience, the memories that you’ve had, working hard in training is the main thing, making sure you’re ready. But, like I said, I started 16 or 17 games last year and I thought my form was there.
United have won all seven Premier League games by a single goal
“There was a lot of talk about me because I wasn’t playing games and that’s the way it is. I was playing well for my country, went to the World Cup and played really well.
“So yeah, I always thought my form was there but I was up against some top, top centre-backs and last year they were playing amazing, so I just didn’t get as many opportunities as I would have liked.
“But this club demands competition for places and that’s what we’ve got in that position.”
Fellow centre-back Victor Lindelof became the fourth United defender to score a winner this season when he lashed in the only goal against Luton Town. None of the United forwards have scored at Old Trafford in the Premier League and Marcus Rashford, scorer of one goal in 16 club games, is the only one to have registered in the league.
Maguire nodded in his first United goal in 19 months to secure a 1-0 win against Copenhagen and he admitted the defenders have made a conscious effort to chip in.
“Definitely. I think it was a great finish from Vic today and he played brilliantly throughout the game,” Maguire enthused. “He stepped up when we needed him.
“Like you said, there have been other times when I have done it, Diogo’s done it. But I think we spoke about it last year, that us defenders, we didn’t score enough goals. Our attackers were scoring all the goals, Marcus especially, so we all need to chip in a little bit more this year and we’ve started to chip in.
Maguire scored the only goal against Copenhagen at Old Trafford
“But like I say, it will probably turn around and the attackers will be scoring all the goals in the coming games. But I’ve always spoke about set plays are a big part of football. We’ve played Luton at Old Trafford today and won the game on a set-play and, for me, over the recent years, our attacking set-plays have been nowhere near good enough.
“To start chipping in with little goals, in big moments, from second phases from corners, it’ll do us well and get us more three points.
“I see [the forwards] day in, day out in training and play with internationals next week in England and I play with the lads in training at Manchester United, they’re top players. They all have the ability to score goals.
“Yes, at the moment, we’re not scoring enough goals, we know that. And we’re not keeping enough clean sheets as well – that’s the way I look at it!
“But I think it’ll click together. In the past, you’ve seen our attackers, they’re top-quality players, they can do it. They know that. Maybe a bit of luck will turn and they’ll get that first one and the goals will follow. I’m sure they will, because they’re all very very good players.”
Maguire overcame booing from casual United fans during pre-season
Maguire offered Rasmus Hojlund his backing after a ninth goalless appearance in the Premier League. The £72m striker has plundered five goals in four games in the Champions League but he is yet to get off the mark in 650 minutes of Premier League football.
“Ras is a top player,” Maguire stressed. “You’ve seen with his work ethic and what he brings to the team over the recent weeks, he does a lot more for the team than just scoring goals.
“He’s scoring goals in training, you’ve seen him score goals in the Champions League, I’m sure it’s a matter of time until he bangs in a few in the Prem as well.”
