Sam Allardyce has now come to the defence of Manchester United and England defender Harry Maguire after the player’s recent resurgence at the Red Devils.
Harry Maguire has become a pivotal defensive figure for Michael Carrick since the 44-year-old Manchester United legend was installed as interim head coach.
The 33-year-old United centre-back has started in all 10 Premier League matches under Michael Carrick so far and has impressed with his resurgence in form.
Maguire represented England during the international break as well after Thomas Tuchel called up the former Man Utd captain for the Three Lions again.
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Sam Allardyce thinks former Man Utd managers let England star Harry Maguire ‘down’ at Old Trafford
Harry Maguire is out of contract with Manchester United in the summer, but the Red Devils are believed to be in talks over a new 12-month extension for the player.
The United defender featured under Thomas Tuchel in England’s 1-1 draw against Uruguay and 1-0 defeat to Japan – both at Wembley – during the March break.
Maguire’s turnaround in form at Old Trafford has impressed former England manager Sam Allardyce in the post-Ruben Amorim era of the Premier League club.
Allardyce has claimed that the likes of former United managers Ruben Amorim and Erik ten Hag were part of the reason for the unfair criticism aimed at Maguire.
“I mean, all the s— he had to put up with at Man United, and now they try to belittle him, particularly the manager [Thomas Tuchel] and his time, and then what he’s come and proven now by his performances,” he said on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast.
“And we’re talking about two seasons here. He’s been left out [of] the [England] team. He’s lost his captaincy; he’s lost his England place. And you haven’t heard it. As a professional, you’ve got to admire him.
“And sometimes you wonder about, he’s been too nice. He should be getting out there banging that door and saying, ‘Well, if I ain’t here, where am I going? I want to go and play football.’
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Former England manager Sam Allardyce on the criticism that Man Utd defender Harry Maguire has received
Allardyce believes that the criticism that Maguire has received has not always been warranted and his lack of pace is an issue that not only applies to him as a player.
“But he’s had a really big cost to the decisions of the managers at Man United,” he continued.
“That people have criticised him unfairly. Yes, some of the performances are, yes, he lacks a bit of pace, we all know that.
“But so [do] many, many a player. And about [the] lack of pace is about how quick[ly] you are in your mind.
“You know, the first five yards in the mind, we all say, we all talk about it.”
Maguire has made 20 appearances across all competitions for Man Utd in the 2025-26 campaign at Old Trafford and has netted twice and picked up one assist so far.
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