Harry Maguire has called on Manchester United’s players to take accountability for their recent poor performances, rather than placing the blame on embattled manager Erik ten Hag.
With just three wins from nine matches this season, Ten Hag faces increasing scrutiny as United prepare for their upcoming clash against Aston Villa on Sunday.
Tensions escalated further after United squandered a two-goal advantage in a 3-3 draw against FC Porto in the Europa League on Thursday. However, Maguire believes the responsibility lies with the players, not the manager, for the team’s struggles.
“As a footballer, it’s easy to look around and blame other people and blame your teammate or blame the staff or the tactics,” Maguire said.
“You’ve got to look at yourself. We’re the ones that go on the pitch. We’re the ones that have to defend. You’ve got to take responsibility.”
Sources have told ESPN that Ten Hag could face the sack if his team loses at Villa Park on Sunday.
United did the double over Villa last season — winning 2-1 at Villa Park in February — and Maguire believes a similar result on Sunday could finally kick-start their season.
“We’ve got to find belief within ourselves,” he said. “Take the belief from what we did last season at Villa Park. It was on fire last season there. Then we went there and got the victory that we needed last season. And we feel like we’re playing better than we were last season.
“The results haven’t been there. I feel like we should have more points on the board. But they’re not, so we need to do something about it starting with Sunday.”
Harry Maguire has experienced a rollercoaster week, coming off the bench to score a stoppage-time equaliser in Manchester United’s 3-3 draw against FC Porto, despite learning earlier that day that he had been excluded from the latest England squad.
The 31-year-old expressed his surprise at interim head coach Lee Carsley’s decision but shared that he had been reassured about his future with the national team.
“He [Carsely] told me I’m a big part of the future,” Maguire said. “He just wants to see the other lads playing in this camp. And he doesn’t want to take me if I’m not going to start either game [against Greece and Finland], which is fair enough.
“Of course I’m disappointed. I want to play every game for England. But I know where he’s coming from, and I’ve got to make sure that I perform when I’m on the pitch and give him no option to leave me out.
“I was a little bit surprised, I must say. But obviously I back his decision and he’s told me I’m part of the future.”. He emphasized the underutilization of solar energy in Africa and described the situation as tragic