United Briefing title image featuring Harry Maguire

United Briefing: Maguire credits backroom staff

Wednesday 07 April 2021 08:00

After making his 100th appearance for Manchester United in Sunday’s 2-1 win against Brighton & Hove Albion, club captain Harry Maguire has paid tribute to the staff working behind the scenes.

Only 602 days passed between Maguire’s first appearance, a 4-0 win against Chelsea in August 2019, and the moment he reached a century. That’s down to the crammed nature of the schedule over the past two campaigns but also the centre-back’s consistent fitness.

“It’s a great honour,” Maguire said. “Every time I step out for this club, it's a great honour. Every time I wear the badge, come into training every day or play a game, I feel so proud and privileged.

The numbers behind Harry's 100

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Take a look at Maguire's key statistics, after he racked up a century of games for the Reds.

“To make 100 appearances in such a short time is what I came to the club to do. My main focus is to play games, be available, and get trust from the manager in terms of playing week in, week out.

"That's what I was brought to the club to do and thankfully I've done that in the first couple of years.”

Maguire has played every minute of every Premier League game since he signed for United from Leicester City two summers ago, a run of 68 consecutive fixtures. It’s a fantastic record, although he still has some way to go to match Steve Coppell’s club record of 206 appearances in a row.

The 28-year-old attributed his consistency to not only himself, but the people working behind the scenes at Old Trafford and the Aon Training Complex.

“It's been a long season,” Maguire admitted.

“It's been game after game after game, and I've managed to stay fit throughout, so it's credit to myself but also credit to the staff in terms of the recovery and the nutrition and things we do at the club.”

WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY?

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and a member of his first-team squad will face the media, as the club holds its pre-match press conference ahead of our first meeting with Granada. The event will start at 13:00 BST and you will be able to watch it live via MUTV, ManUtd.com and our Official App.

Our photographers will be back at the Aon Training Complex and it will be interesting to see if any of the absentees from Tuesday's session can be seen on the pitch this time, as the players are put through their paces for the final time before flying to Spain.

Maguire: United is full of leaders

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Harry is the latest UTD Podcast interviewee and he waxes lyrical about the character and personality of the squad.

WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY

We previewed what should be Maguire's 101st game - away to Granada in the first leg of our Europa League quarter-final on Thursday night - and brought you the early team news from both camps.

As well as publishing official photos of the Reds' latest training session, we confirmed that promising Academy youngster Anthony Elanga has been added to the list of players who are registered to play in the competition.

Tuesday's stories: