‘Hate’ is a strong word, but no player has experienced anything close to that than Harry Maguire in recent years. The former Leicester City defender has not enjoyed many good memories in a Manchester United shirt since his big money move from the Foxes in 2019. More often than not, he has been made a scapegoat for anything that went wrong at Old Trafford.
Gareth Southgate recently praised the 30-year-old’s mentality for staying professional despite all the abuse he receives both at club and international level, and the centre-back has explained how he’s been coping with it.
Harry Maguire sheds light on abuse aimed at him by England supporters
No United fan likes to admit it, but Harry Maguire is one of the players with the strongest grit in the squad. The player has been bruised and battered by the club supporters, no thanks to his constant on-field errors, many of which have costed his team heavily in the past. Nevertheless, the former Foxes defender has remained determined to win back his place in the squad, even if it means constantly receiving abuse from the fans.
In the space of 12 months, Maguire has lost his place in the team, been stripped of the captain’s armband, and hasn’t started any Premier League game this season. Unfortunately, the only place he finds solace is when he goes on international duty. But his own goal in their last match didn’t help his cause either, as his own fans booed him every time he stepped on the ball.
“I would not say I am a person who struggles with pressure mentally,” the United defender said on the recent abuse.
“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 is a lot of bad as well as good. I would not say I am used to it, but I can deal with it.”, Maguire concluded.
Harry Maguire explains his decision to stay at Manchester United
Any other player could have used a move away from the club, away from all the spotlight that comes with playing for Manchester United and always being made the scapegoat. However, Harry Maguire turned down that chance when he refused a move to West Ham in a £30 million deal after both clubs had agreed a fee for the defender’s transfer.
On his failed move to the London club, Maguire said, “I’ve not started a game in the first four games of the season, the story comes to me. I want to play football. West Ham? We just didn’t come to an agreement. Man Utd were happy to let me stay, and I was happy to fight for my place.”
Can Harry Maguire win back his place at Manchester United? Share your thoughts on the English defender’s future.
