Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers believes Manchester United fans have created the current noise around England defender Harry Maguire.
It is more than two years ago that the centre-back was a regular for Manchester United, as club captain, and earned a place in the Euros team of the tournament after helping Gareth Southgate’s side reach the final.
A huge drop in form came and it was only a matter of time before club game time would see him removed of his captaincy duties at Old Trafford.
This has all led pressure and criticism to ratchet up on Maguire to a point that his international manager snapped following Tuesday’s 3-1 win over Scotland, hitting out at reporters and pundits in the defender’s defence.
Maguire had been jeered by the Scotland fans at Hampden Park, but Rodgers has somehow turned this on United fans. The Celtic manager worked with Maguire at Leicester City.
Rodgers said (via Herald Scotland): “I know Harry well having worked with him and I find it a real shame if I’m honest. He’s a good guy but he’s obviously a top class player and the focus and noise that’s been around him, sadly, has probably been created more by his own club’s supporters, and that’s spilled out to other supporters.
“I was at the game the other night. This is a guy who remember started a World Cup, he’s not that bad a player. If you needed someone by your side when it’s tough, you’d want him beside you. He’s a great man, he’s very honest to the game. I know why Gareth picks him, he’s been fantastic for England, a real leader amongst the young players that’s coming through there.
“I find it a real shame that a player who, when he went into Manchester United, found himself really quickly to be the Manchester United captain. I can’t speak highly enough of him. He’s a fantastic man, I see the noise that goes around him. It’s a real shame, it’s just sad where it was created. But he’s tough, he’s mentally strong and he’ll prove throughout the rest of his career that he’s a very, very good player.
“You don’t go from being in a team in the World Cup and being recognised as a top international player, to people making fun of you. That’s something you sometimes have to deal with as a player and manager, but he’ll get through it.”
https://x.com/footballdaily/status/1702313498368446702?s=20
I think Rodgers is missing the bigger picture on the current noise surrounding Maguire because from what I’ve been sat – keep close attention to Sky Sports News over the past few days – it is clear they hold responsibility for such noise.
On Wednesday, they chased golfers around a course to ask for their thoughts on Maguire.
It’s all a circus and I don’t think it helps Maguire.
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