Harry Maguire was asked about Roy Keane’s comments this week criticising a lack of leadership in the squad.
Keane lambasted United on Sky Sports after the defeat to Arsenal and blamed a lack of characters in the team.
Maguire refuted Keane’s words, quoted by ESPN: “I haven’t seen his comments because especially after a negative result we don’t bring the negativity into the place.
“We stay positive and I can say for sure that there’s a lot of leaders in this squad. I’m the captain and I’ve got a lot of leadership around me — staff and players. No, for sure there are a lot of leaders in this squad.”
United produced another stinker of a performance subsequently against Istanbul Basaksehir, showing not much has changed. It needs to.
Keane’s outspoken nature eventually let to United releasing him in 2005.
One of the players Keane lambasted in an infamous 2005 MUTV interview was Darren Fletcher.
The Express reported how Keane doubted Fletcher’s ability, asking why “people in Scotland rave about Darren Fletcher”.
Today marks 15 years to the day that Fletcher showed the best possible response to Keane’s comments.
It is 15 years since United produced a battling 1-0 win over Chelsea in 2005 at Old Trafford, with Fletcher scoring the only goal.
It was a huge win, with Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea at the peak of their powers. This was a sign Sir Alex Ferguson’s side could compete, and within 18 months, United were lifting the Premier League trophy once again.
BBC Sport reported: “Fletcher was one of the players singled out by Keane for criticism but, with the Irishman watching from the stands, the young Scot produced a storming performance.”
Character
What Fletcher showed was character. He went onto do so throughout his career as a United player.
Roy Keane’s current criticism of this Manchester United side was that the team lacks characters, players with drive and determination to put this slump right, in addition to ability.
Harry Maguire needs to step up. United paid £80 million for him, for the leadership he can bring to the side as well as his quality in defence.
This weekend United head to Goodison Park desperately needing a win.
The big players in the team need to step up, and this includes Maguire. He needs to produce a Fletcher-esque response in the face of Keane’s challenge to the United squad.
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