Harry Maguire played well against Everton despite his game time being cut significantly at Manchester United this season.
The arrival of Lisandro Martinez has helped United but not Maguire. That said, they both played well at centre-back on Saturday when Erik ten Hag decided to rotate at the back and give Raphael Varane a rested.
Speaking to The Athletic after United’s 2-0 win over Everton, the skipper said: “It’s my job. That’s the bottom line of it, it is my job to be ready and to train as well as I can. If you ask anyone in the dressing room how well I train, I train hard and competitively in everything I do whether it is a small-sided game or possession, and I always do extra.
“I’ve proven that because every time I’ve been given an opportunity for the club this season and for my country in the World Cup and qualifiers, I felt like I’ve been in a really good place and I’m performing well.
“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. But I also understand we have amazing centre-backs at this club.
“We have four top international centre-backs who could play at the top level. Myself, Lich (Martinez), Rafa (Varane) and Victor (Lindelof) as well. It is good that we have all four of us and I’m sure between now and the end of the season we’re going to push each other and also going to be highly competitive for spaces, but you also have to make sure when you don’t get selected that you train well and make sure you are ready and ready to fight and when you get that chance to take that opportunity.”
United have been better at the back since Martinez’s arrival and I can’t see a way back into the team for Maguire, unless we get injuries between now and the end of the season.
The question this summer is whether he wants to remain on the bench at United, with The Sun linking Maguire with a return to Leicester City.
However, Ten Hag has made it clear that he is happy with the progress Maguire has made this season, labelling the 30-year-old as a ‘dominating force’.
“Maguire was dominating, dictating,” Ten Hag told club media. “This is a different Harry to what I’ve seen in the first weeks and months.
“He’s taking so much initiative, dominating his opponent, stepping in, bringing passes… so a really great performance.”
Let us know in the comments section if you think Maguire will be at United next season.
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