Jaap Stam was absolutely spot on with his challenge to in-form Manchester United star

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Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has been a player reborn this season, proving his many doubters wrong.

When the captaincy was taken away from Harry Maguire, it had been assumed it was the end of his Manchester United career. But it was just the start of the second chapter.

United did open the door to Maguire to leave, there is no point keeping a player if he wants to go. Maguire preferred to stay and fight for his place instead of signing with West Ham.

Since then, Manchester United can be pretty thankful that he chose to stay. With Lisandro Martinez injured, Maguire has risen to the challenge and established himself as first choice, with Jonny Evans, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof fighting to partner him.

Jaap Stam backed Harry Maguire to bounce back

It was in September 2022 when Harry Maguire lost his place at Manchester United, and never really recovered it on a regular basis the entire campaign.

He made only eight Premier League starts the whole of last season, with 762 minutes combined including substitute appearances. This time around he has already made six league starts and accrued 566 minutes, and we are not even at the halfway point.

Maguire losing his starting role was a big talking point, and many wrote him off. Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam had a different perspective, instead saying this was a challenge Maguire should throw himself into.

Stam told iNews in September last year: “He needs to show everybody that he’s number one. If that’s not the case, you’re going to be taken out. That’s how it works at the absolute top – I’ve been there myself, you need to be consistent in what you’re producing.

“[Harry] could always say ‘I’m not playing so I’m going to go somewhere else’. That’s an easy decision for him. But if he wants to succeed at Manchester United he needs to show himself in training sessions again, because we all know in football, especially in the Premier League with the amount of games to be played, eventually there’s a space that will open up again.

“And then you need to show yourself, you need to knock on the door and say ‘I’m going to be stepping in, and I’m never going to be out again’.”

“You need to convince the coach, the manager, and the coaching staff now.”

Stam was right that eventually a spot would open up, with injuries. There were opportunities last season but he was overlooked. This time around it has been different.

Harry Maguire has certainly shown his manager he deserves to start games, making himself undroppable for Erik ten Hag in recent weeks. That could change when Lisandro Martinez returns in 2024, so he will have to either establish a partnership with the Argentine, or outperform him.

Maguire quality was backed by Chiellini

Harry Maguire’s quality was supported by another top defender, Italy centre-back Giorgio Chiellini, who lined up opposite the Manchester United man in the Euro 2020 final.

He said that the talk over Maguire’s price tag needs to be discarded, telling The Times that demands on the Manchester United man have been over-inflated.

He explained: “I am sad for Maguire’s situation because he is a good player. They require too much of him. Just because they paid £80million for him, he has to be the best in the world every match? It’s not right. The value of the market is dependent on many aspects you can’t control. It’s not your fault.”

Maguire has shown an impressive consistency in recent weeks, stepping up amid a period of difficult form for the club, winning his manager over, and supporters too. His effort has not gone unnoticed, and whatever the future holds, he has rebuilt his reputation, and deserves real credit for doing what Jaap Stam said, sticking it out and winning back his spot.