Harry Maguire has addressed the criticism he faced during England’s recent match and shed light on why he chose to remain at Manchester United despite being stripped of the captaincy by Erik ten Hag.
During England’s 3-1 victory over Scotland at Hampden Park, Harry Maguire endured taunts from Scottish fans, particularly after scoring an own goal in the second half. England manager Gareth Southgate vehemently defended Maguire against his critics, labeling them as ‘idiots,’ but Maguire himself asserted that he can handle the pressure and scrutiny.
Maguire scored an unfortunate own goal in the win over Scotland
“I would not say I am a person who struggles with pressure mentally”, Maguire stated. “I have been through a lot in the last couple of years, and I have been Manchester United captain for nearly four years. You take a huge amount of responsibility and everything that comes with it – and that includes a lot of criticism as well as praise. At Hampden Park, they put pressure on me. I wouldn’t say I am used to it, but I can deal with it.”
Harry Maguire expressed disappointment over the own goal but recognized that such occurrences are part of football, especially for a center-back who occasionally finds himself in challenging defensive positions. He also highlighted his second-half performance and his ability to handle the situation.
As for his future at Old Trafford, Maguire emphasized his determination to fight for his place on the team. Despite rumors linking him to West Ham, he clarified that no agreement was reached for his departure, and both parties were content with him staying and competing for a spot in the squad.
Maguire explained: “Well, I think it was a bit of both. We just didn’t come to an agreement, and they were happy for me to stay, and I was happy to fight for my place. I want to do that, and every time I train or play, I will give everything.”
Harry Maguire responds to England abuse and explains decision to stay at Man Utd
Harry Maguire made a substitute appearance against Arsenal before the international break and remains optimistic about getting more opportunities in the season, especially given the defensive challenges facing Erik ten Hag’s team.
He added: “I know that at the moment, when I have not started a game in the first four games of the season, the story comes to me. So, I need to keep performing when I get chosen. Listen, at club football, I want to play games. The first four weeks were hard because it was one game a week, and the manager didn’t select me, but we have lots of games coming up now, and I am sure I will play lots of games.”
