Pallister: Maguire is exactly what we needed
Gary Pallister has praised Harry Maguire’s exceptional consistency and high performance level over the duration of the 2019/20 Premier League season.
The Manchester United captain didn’t miss a single minute of his maiden league campaign at Old Trafford and became the first outfield player to achieve such an accolade since Pallister in the 1994/95 season.
Therefore, the former defender knows exactly how tough it can be to maintain such high standards over the course of an entire term, and paid compliment to Maguire, not just for his performances, but for his stability over the 38-game programme.
Therefore, the former defender knows exactly how tough it can be to maintain such high standards over the course of an entire term, and paid compliment to Maguire, not just for his performances, but for his stability over the 38-game programme.
Pally joins the MUTV Group Chat Video
Pally joins the MUTV Group Chat
Gary Pallister recalls the day Ole signed for United and discusses Harry Maguire's season...
“I think he’s terrific,” Pally said during the latest episode of MUTV Group Chat. “I think he’s rightly got the captaincy; he’s one of the talkers.
“He’s not the type of leader that Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce and Roy Keane were, but I think he’s got an assurance about him that the players respond to.
“I think, for his first season, he’s been terrific. He’s comfortable on the ball, you saw it on Sunday [at Leicester City], getting his head to things when the balls are chucked into the box. He’s dominant there and he’s exactly the type of centre-back that Manchester United needed.”
“He’s not the type of leader that Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce and Roy Keane were, but I think he’s got an assurance about him that the players respond to.
“I think, for his first season, he’s been terrific. He’s comfortable on the ball, you saw it on Sunday [at Leicester City], getting his head to things when the balls are chucked into the box. He’s dominant there and he’s exactly the type of centre-back that Manchester United needed.”
As well as dishing out the plaudits, Pallister was also more than happy to remind Harry that his record of playing every minute in a Premier League season took place over a 42-match campaign.
“They all play 38 [now], but I’ve got the proper record,” he told presenter Stewart Gardner, with a chuckle.
“It was something that I didn’t realise until years later. I think it was a quiz question and someone asked me it and I didn’t have a clue.
“For a long time, I think it was myself, John Terry and somebody else… I think there were three of us who have done the same thing.”
“They all play 38 [now], but I’ve got the proper record,” he told presenter Stewart Gardner, with a chuckle.
“It was something that I didn’t realise until years later. I think it was a quiz question and someone asked me it and I didn’t have a clue.
“For a long time, I think it was myself, John Terry and somebody else… I think there were three of us who have done the same thing.”
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As a player, Pally formed one half of the arguably the greatest centre-back partnership in Premier League history, alongside Steve Bruce.
The duo famously guided the Reds to our first Premier League title in 1992/93 and then two of the following three.
Consequently, the 55-year-old was keen to talk not just about Maguire, but the skipper's defensive partner, Victor Lindelof.
“Lindelof has had a really good season as well,” Gary suggested. “He’s not as dominant as Harry, but I think he’s complimented him.
“He’s got the hang of the Premier League: the physicality and the pace of it. I think he went from strength to strength.”
The duo famously guided the Reds to our first Premier League title in 1992/93 and then two of the following three.
Consequently, the 55-year-old was keen to talk not just about Maguire, but the skipper's defensive partner, Victor Lindelof.
“Lindelof has had a really good season as well,” Gary suggested. “He’s not as dominant as Harry, but I think he’s complimented him.
“He’s got the hang of the Premier League: the physicality and the pace of it. I think he went from strength to strength.”
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