Harry Maguire has described missing out on Manchester United’s FA Cup victory and England’s run to the European Championship final as “the toughest moment of my career”.
Gareth Southgate declined to take Maguire to Germany after the defender picked up a calf injury in the week of United’s Wembley date against Manchester City then suffered setbacks.
Maguire also insisted his future is at Old Trafford despite United signing Leny Yoro, and making offers for Jarrad Branthwaite and Matthijs de Ligt.
But the pain of being unable to help club and country in pursuit of trophies is still evident. “When I first did the injury, I thought I’d be fit for the FA Cup final,” Maguire revealed.
“So I pushed myself for the final, and then I had a setback in the week leading up to the final, which ruled me out of it. At that time again, it was no problem, I was going to be fit for the Euros. Then I went away with England and I had another setback, so yeah, it was so frustrating.
“When I look back, I wish I had no chance with all of them, so I could have got my head around it. But I thought I was going to play in the cup final or be involved at some stage and I thought 100 per cent I’d be involved at the Euros, but it just didn’t happen and maybe I just pushed myself to get back too early, but definitely it was the toughest moment of my career, definitely.”
Maguire rejected any suggestion Erik ten Hag’s training was a factor. “It was not because he was pushing us too hard in training. He actually backed off us in the end because there were so many injuries we could not afford to lose anymore. I don’t know why.
“For me, I have not had muscle injuries all my career and then last season I picked up two or three. A lot of teams last year struggled. It might have been with the World Cup in the middle of the season. From the start of the season there was all that added time that was making games 100 minutes long. It might have all added up but it is hard to put your finger on it.“
Maguire, who has one year left on his United contract with an optional extra, believes he will be at the club into next season. United accepted a £30m bid from West Ham for Maguire last summer, but he stayed and he feels he will play many more times for Ten Hag.
Maguire missed England’s Euro 2024 campaign (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
“Listen, until I get told you’re up for sale or ‘we want you to leave’, I want to play for this club and make it successful again. All the things I’m hearing and seeing from everyone involved is I’ll be part of this club for the future.
“Every summer and every transfer window at Manchester United, there are 15 players out of the door and we’re getting 45 players in.
“I think every player knows that’s what happens (written by media). I’m a player with only a year left on my contract with an option but if they come to me and say they don’t want me any more, of course I’ll look for options elsewhere, but that’s never been told to me.”
Maguire has been impressed with Yoro’s start at United but added a cautionary note. “We must remind ourselves he is really young, there are gonna be mistakes but he has every attribute of a centre back in the modern game, so I’m sure he’s gonna have a bright future.
“It’s our job as senior centre backs, my job, to help him along, communicate well, let him know what to expect.”
Maguire may have been stripped of the captaincy by Ten Hag, but he gave his firm backing to the Dutchman’s continuing status in charge of United, after the deep doubts on his position at the end of last season.
“It was tough, some of the things that came out in the lead up to the cup final were really poor, I felt,” Maguire said.
“He handled it brilliantly, to be honest, he just took each day as it comes. From us players, we didn’t see anything different in the manager, so credit to him. To have the lead up in the way that he did and to produce a performance like we did in the cup final and turn things around was really impressive.
“We have a good relationship. There’s a lot of respect there.”
Maguire said United “definitely” made the right call keeping Ten Hag, adding: “He has shown we can beat the top teams and we have won two trophies in two years. The first season was really good, last season wasn’t. Last season was tough for Erik as well. There was so much uncertainty and the amount of injuries was freakish really and I am pretty confident that won’t happen this season.
“We have faith in the management team and the additions he has made are really good as well.”
United begin the new Premier League campaign at home to Fulham on August 16.
(Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Read the full article here