Harry Maguire, who saved Manchester United from a complete collapse with a late stoppage-time goal, did not hold back in his post-match comments, offering some sharp criticism of the team’s performance. Speaking to reporters after the 3-3 draw against Porto in the Europa League, Maguire expressed his disappointment in the way United allowed their comfortable two-goal lead to slip away so easily.

The Red Devils were in control during the early stages of the match, but once Porto pulled a goal back, it became a downward spiral for Erik ten Hag’s men. Maguire acknowledged the team’s fragility and their failure to maintain composure under pressure, something that has become a recurring theme in their season so far.

Harry Maguire thinks Manchester United’s not there mentally 

Maguire, speaking to TNT Sports after the dramatic 3-3 draw against Porto, voiced his concerns about Manchester United’s performance. The English defender, who stepped up to rescue a point for his team with a stoppage-time header, didn’t shy away from expressing his disappointment.

“I think it’s more the mental issue [conceding in quick succession] and it’s something we have to overcome. It probably starts with belief.”

“When we go 2-0 up and concede, does the belief go a little bit between the boys that we can go on and win the game here? So it’s something we need to be aware of.”

What Maguire tries to stress is the lack of belief in game plans or individual decisions. Struggling to keep the game intact or hold on to their advantage is an often trait of Ten Hag’s era. While it was a stellar performance stats-wise as they had 29 shots attempted keeping the ball possession of 54% in an away game.  

“The boys on the pitch have to realise that this has happened far too many times and it’s something we need to reset, refocus and go back to the game plan that got us the lead in the first place. It’s something we must improve.”

“If we want to be successful this season, we can’t be conceding two goals in as many minutes as we did this evening.”

The sudden shift in momentum after Porto’s comeback is clearly at the heart of Manchester United captain Harry Maguire’s frustration. Taking control of the game early with a two-goal lead, only to see it dissolve in a matter of minutes, is deeply concerning for a club of United’s stature. Maguire’s reaction reflects the growing frustration with what seems to be a systemic issue within the squad—an inability to maintain composure and respond effectively when under pressure.

What’s troubling for Maguire and likely the rest of the team is that this issue goes beyond tactics, formations, or even personnel changes. No matter how many high-profile signings the club makes or how much talent they bring in, instilling the fighting spirit and mental toughness to weather difficult moments isn’t something that can be achieved through transfers alone. It’s about building a cohesive unit, where leadership is shared across the team, and where there’s a collective will to grind out results even when the game turns against them.

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This lack of spirit and inspiration to regroup after setbacks has been evident in multiple games this season. The squad seems to struggle with bouncing back once the opposition applies pressure, and Porto’s swift comeback only highlighted these vulnerabilities once again.

The psychological aspect of United’s game seems to be the crux of the issue, and until they can find a way to foster a stronger mentality on the pitch, no amount of tactical adjustments or new signings will fully address the problem. It’s something that takes time, leadership, and a shared commitment from the entire squad—a process that may take more than just one season to build under Erik Ten Hag.