Harry Maguire says he faces more scrutiny playing for Manchester United than he does with England.
The centre-back was selected by Gareth Southgate for the 2022 World Cup, despite suffering a dip in form and losing his place in the Manchester United XI — starting just five games in the Premier League this season.
Ultimately, Southgate was right to overlooked Maguire’s struggles at club level because he has always performed well on the international stage. He looks confident again as England prepare for their quarter-final clash with France on Saturday.
When asked by reporters if he was raising his game for England, Maguire told The Times: “I don’t think there’s different pressure. The pressure of playing in a World Cup with England at this stage is the biggest tournament in the world. At Manchester United I’m under a lot more scrutiny. Everything I do gets analysed. Every pass I make gets analysed. Every goal we concede is a defender’s fault. And if you’re playing week in, week out as I did for three years, the last year hasn’t been good enough. Everyone in the team didn’t play well enough and we came under lot of scrutiny as players. No one came out of the season with plaudits.”
Maguire added: “The last year has been difficult and I haven’t played as well as I’ve done in the previous five years at the top level but I think during a career that’s only probably Lionel Messi and Cristiano [Ronaldo] who’ve not had a dip in their careers.”
Cristiano Ronaldo is certainly experiencing that dip now after losing his place in the Portugal line-up to Goncalo Ramos.
Maguire went on to reveal that United manager Erik ten Hag has been sending him messages of congratulations throughout the World Cup.
“While I am away, they [Manchester United] want me to focus fully on England,” he said. “But I have had a couple of nice texts from them saying how well I’ve performed and congratulations on reaching the quarter-finals. It’s nice.
“I am sure they’ll be watching the games but Erik [ten Hag] will be supporting the Oranje army. It is good to feel the support of them.”
More scrutiny at United?
Of course, Maguire is right. This should be something players expect when they join the biggest football club in the world.
Maguire may have forgotten how England fans booed him at Wembley earlier this year, while fans like us will always look to defend United fans even when they’re playing poorly.
Let’s wait to see how they respond when England’s World Cup campaign comes to an end…
