With Manchester United, Harry Maguire feels he is “under a lot more scrutiny” than with England, despite the center-continued back’s success at the World Cup.
The captain of the Red Devils has excelled for Gareth Southgate’s team in Qatar 2022, starting each of their four games thus far and contributing to three clean sheets.
It stands in stark contrast to the defender’s recent struggles at club level and his removal as a first-choice selection by new manager Erik ten Hag during an injury layoff.
While admitting that United were much below par last season, Maguire himself has few concerns and claims that he feels more scrutinized at Old Trafford than with the Three Lions.
“At Manchester United, I’m under a lot more scrutiny,” he added. “Everything I do gets analysed. Every pass I make gets analysed. Every goal we concede is a defender’s fault.
“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 a lot of scrutiny as players.”
😁🏴 @England pic.twitter.com/rB7VA56YOm
— Harry Maguire (@HarryMaguire93) December 4, 2022
Under Ten Hag however, United have overcome a shaky start – and the saga of Cristiano Ronaldo – to head into the World Cup break looking close to their best for two years.
Maguire is delighted to see the turnaround, even if he is down the pecking order, and is relishing the chance to battle to get back into the Dutchman’s thinking.
“No one came out of the season with plaudits, so it was a general team issue last season, but this one has been much better,” he added.
“This is the first year I’ve really sat on a bench in a few games. I obviously got an injury as well, a thigh injury that kept me out for four weeks, but I’ll fight to get my place back.”
Maguire will be expected to line up when England face off with defending champions France in the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.