From meme to essential: The United star who never stops gathering praise

It’s been a season Manchester United It is unable to achieve the regularity expected due to history and investment. And when this happens, explanations are always sought. Some explanations are often accompanied by indications as well. Because it is not always the fault of the coaches or managers, there are footballers who turn out badly. Maguire is the best example.

Harry Maguire cost Manchester United almost 90 million, an unusual figure for a defender, which hindered him for a long time. In his first four seasons as a Red Devil, he had his ups and downs, just like the rest of the team, but Maguire became a regular meme. Whatever happened, it was the former Leicester centre-back’s fault.

The criticism was so intense that his level fell further, finding in the English team and in the figure of Southgate the only comfort zone to forget the situation at his club. Despite this, after a bad game with the national team there too, the focus was put on him and the coach did not hesitate to defend him: “This is the result of ridiculous treatment of him for a long time. “It’s a joke, I’ve never seen a player treated the same: by narrators, commentators… It’s beyond what I’ve seen,” Southgate said.

Maguire didn’t complain, he took the situation and worked to turn it around. ”I played almost 200 times for Manchester United, I was captain for three years, but I also understand that when you are captain of Manchester United you are under the most scrutiny.“.

From not having him to untouchable

Ten Hag’s style of play showed the English defender several times last season. Playing a lot of space behind him shows his lack of speed. Something that paid off if the spaces were smaller, because in one-on-one he was a force and from above he won almost all the duels. Before the start of this season, the Dutch coach removed his captaincy and invited him to leave the club. The player himself explained it this way: ”After conversations with the coach today he informed me that he will change captain. He explained his reasons to me and although I am personally very disappointed, I will continue to give it my all every time I wear the shirt.”.

With Varane, Lindelof, Lisandro and even Shaw and Evans Up front, he refused to leave the club despite having a very good offer. He waited his turn, with injuries, and seized his chances as if they were his last. He regained his confidence, won duels, hurt rivals at set pieces and won the applause of a crowd that adored him.

Manchester United fans feel very well represented by the words of a social network account ‘X’ that produces content about the club: ”From being the object of worldwide derision, to being a key player for this Manchester United team, our best defender this season and the only centre-back available at the moment. Respect to Harry Maguire.

In the last two games he scored a goal, he was the only one who could be relied on in defense and he led the captains, even though he was not wearing an armband. Others would see his situation as a problem, he saw an opportunity.