“Top scoring defender”- Out of favour Manchester United ace remains defiant despite continued criticism

Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire does not feel he needs to “prove” himself

England international and Manchester United defender Harry Maguire does not feel he needs to “prove” himself at the age of 30.

The centre-back has struggled for game time at the Old Trafford side since the arrival of Erik ten Hag in the dugout at the end of last season. As a result, the former Leicester City star has had to bide most of his time on the bench in the current campaign.

Speaking to PA Sport (h/t Manchester Evening News), Maguire believes he has done enough in the game. However, the centre-back acknowledges the expectations that come with being the captain of United.

“I feel like I’m nearly 30 years old but I shouldn’t really need to prove myself at this level. I’ve made over 50 caps, I’m England’s top-scoring defender.

“I’ve played nearly 200 times for Manchester United, I’ve captained the club for three years now but I do also understand that when you are the captain of Manchester United you do come under the most amount of scrutiny.”

The 30-year-old has been an ever-present member of the Three Lions’ squad under Gareth Southgate. The defender has played a pivotal role in major competitions for his nation over the years.

While Maguire has lost his place at the Old Trafford side, Southgate has still shown faith in him. The 30-year-old went to the 2022 World Cup and put in some resolute and encouraging displays.

Recently, the centre-back played the full 90 minutes in the Three Lions’ wins over Italy and Ukraine in the Euro 2024 qualifiers. Once again, the former Leicester star did not look rusty.

Maguire was handed the captain’s armband at United just a few months after his arrival. He was mostly steady at the back. However, in the previous campaign, the England international was prone to errors and lost most of the fans’ trust.

Now, Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane have pipped the 30-year-old in the pecking order. The Argentine and French nationals have been Ten Hag’s preferred partnership in the Red Devils’ backline.

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It is understandable that Maguire feels the way he does considering his displays for England. However, the 30-year-old needs to prove his consistency at the Old Trafford side due to some of his shaky performances in a red shirt.