Harry Maguire credits his ability to handle the intense scrutiny of playing for Manchester United for helping him overcome harsh criticism.
The defender made the switch from Leicester City to United in 2019 for a staggering £80 million ($102m), but his performances arguably did not justify the hefty price tag.
Throughout much of 2021 and 2022, Maguire struggled to find form, resulting in severe criticism directed at him. At one point, it appeared that he was on the brink of joining West Ham in 2023.
However, the 6’4″ centre-back remained determined to prove himself under Erik ten Hag’s management. This season, Maguire has shown signs of improvement in his performances, a turnaround he attributes in part to his resilient mindset.
He told talkSPORT: “First and foremost, it’s a huge honour and a massive privilege to play for a club with so much history. It’s a huge club and I love playing for it. It means so much to me and there’s so many ups and downs, the scrutiny is there, everybody knows that.
The pressure is there because we’re the most spoken-about club in the world – for sure in this country. That’s just the way it is and you have to get used to it.
You’ve got to be able to deal with it. As an individual, you can’t look too much into it, you just have to look after yourself during the week and prepare as well as you can. Then you approach the matchday with confidence. The preparation gives you the confidence to deal with the pressure of playing for such a huge, iconic club.”
Despite Harry Maguire’s improved performances, Manchester United has endured a disappointing season overall. The team finished eighth in the Premier League, failed to retain their Carabao Cup title, and ended up at the bottom of their Champions League group.
Manager Erik ten Hag is reportedly under pressure to keep his job. If Manchester United fails to secure victory in the FA Cup final this weekend, this season will be regarded as a catastrophe.
Maguire, who has been included in Gareth Southgate’s provisional 33-man England squad for Euro 2024, is set to feature for United in their FA Cup final showdown against bitter rivals Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday.