How the fans helped Maguire to stand tall

Tuesday 12 December 2023 10:00

Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire has spoken openly and honestly about the mindset that helped him to regain a place in Erik ten Hag’s starting XI.

The England international made 31 appearances for the Reds last season and featured regularly across all competitions, but also had to contend with being on the substitutes' bench for the first time in his career. 

That led to external speculation about his future in the summer, but Maguire remained focused on working hard and impressing the manager. Injuries at centre-back meant Harry eventually got his chance and he grabbed it with both hands, becoming a fixture in the team again this campaign. 

Last week, the 30-year-old became only the third United centre-back in history to win the Premier League’s Player of the Month award after the great Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. He is proud of that achievement and grateful to the fans who voted for him, because that support has helped him enormously.

Harry Maguire: Standing tall Video

Harry Maguire: Standing tall

Win, lose or draw, Harry Maguire is standing tall for the team. Last Friday, he spoke candidly about his story...

During an interview last Friday, for this evening's edition of United Review, Maguire opened up about the story of his season so far.

“In football you don’t go through a 15-year career without being sat on the bench at all. Last season probably was the first time in my career where I’ve had to do that. 

“I said to myself I’d remain patient, I’d do everything I can off the field when I’m not playing to help the lads, because I play for this club for it to be successful, whether I’m playing or not.

“Every day I came to training, tried to drive the standards, drive the training, to make sure we were working at an intensity that enabled us to get three points. By doing that, I enabled myself to stay fit, stay ready, stay in a good, positive mindset and be ready to take my chance when it came.”

On the fans who voted for him, Harry continued: “The support has been amazing, ever since I’ve come in and played this season. They’ve been amazing with me. I’ve really felt the love and the support on the pitch, and it’s given me great confidence and belief in myself to go and perform well and help the team.”
Harry Maguire in United Review says

“I said to myself I’d remain patient, I’d do everything I can off the field when I’m not playing to help the lads, because I play for this club for it to be successful, whether I’m playing or not.”

Now in his fifth season at United, Maguire knows it is the most talked about club in world football and a key part of his own story is blocking out that noise. And he is clear in his message, when asked what he would say to fans who are constantly reading negative press, and particularly about dressing room unrest.

“Don’t always believe what you read!” he stated.

“I’ve been at this club for five years now. I speak as someone who has been in the dressing room when I say that every player in that dressing room wants to succeed, wants to play for this club and wants to do their best for this club.”

Of course, results have been up and down this season and United are trying to find some consistency across the board. 

The immediate focus is tonight’s Champions League match against Bayern Munich, which United must win to remain in European competition this season. It’s a high-pressure occasion and one that Maguire is relishing, as he explained to our features editor Steve Bartram.  

“You’re playing for this club to play on these sorts of nights. Bayern Munich at home, under the lights at Old Trafford in the Champions League, it’s a beautiful game to play in. That’s why you play for this club. Old Trafford brings special European nights and hopefully we can bring another one tonight.

Harry Maguire in United Review says

“The support has been amazing, ever since I’ve come in and played this season. They’ve been amazing with me. I’ve really felt the love and the support on the pitch, and it’s given me great confidence and belief.”

“It’s really important that we’re all in this together: players, staff, fans. We’re all in this together, we want this club to move forward, we all want this club to be fighting for the biggest trophies and we’ll do that together for sure.”

Read the full interview in the Bayern Munich edition of United Review - get yours at Old Trafford or order online.

Get ready for United v Bayern: