Harry Maguire issues defiant message over Man Utd performance levels

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire insists he has done himself ‘justice’ with his performances this season, but is adamant that he won’t be satisfied until he plays every game.

From being one of the first names on the teamsheet under former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Maguire has unceremoniously tumbled down the pecking order at Old Trafford this season – Erik ten Hag has preferred a Lisandro Martinez-Raphael Varane partnership and will also often turn to Victor Lindelof from the bench if he wants an extra layer of defensive protection.

Maguire was dropped in the wake of the humiliating 4-0 defeat to Brentford back in August and hasn’t started consecutive Premier League games since.

“This year I feel I am in a good place mentally, physically and every time I’ve started a game of football I’ve done myself justice and done well,” he said after playing all 90 minutes of the 2-0 win against Everton over the weekend.

“I’m not going to stand here and say I love it, or that I like it. I don’t,” he said of his situation this season. “I want to play every game and I have done for the last eight years of my career. Also, I have to respect the manager and his decisions and also respect how good the competition is at centre-back at this club. It is, and I believe that.”

Having lifted the Carabao Cup already this season, Maguire still has his eyes on two more as United target the FA Cup and Europa League. He also predicts ‘numerous starts’ in what remains of 2022/23.

“I will work as hard as I can in training and take every game as it comes as I’m sure I’m going to get numerous starts between now and the end of the season,” he said.

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“It is not like I’ve not started. I’ve started the last two games before the international break against Fulham and Betis. It is not like I’ve been frozen out or not been involved. I’m still playing a lot of games but obviously as a footballer I want to play every game. But I’m sure every other centre-back in the dressing room does as well and the manager cannot play all four.”

Maguire has made it clear that he wants to play every game. For someone recently 30 and still a regular starter for England, that is certainly an understandable stance at this stage of his career.

There could still be a role for him at United, but the way this season has panned out and his attitude towards being a back-up suggests it wouldn’t be one he is happy with.

90min reported last month that Ten Hag believes he can work with Maguire and is happy for the former Sheffield United, Hull and Leicester star to keep fighting for a place. He has been told that is no longer first choice and is free to leave this summer.

Newcastle are among the Premier League clubs interested in Maguire and United, who would also consider a loan if it means facilitating an eventual permanent transfer, accept that a sale would bring in far less than the £80m sum they paid Leicester in 2019.

Anthony Martial and Scott McTominay are also available for transfer, as are Eric Bailly, Alex Telles and Dean Henderson. Offloading Martial and Maguire in particular could save up to £500,000 per week – or £26m over a whole year – in wages that would raise funds and trim costs.

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