Harry Maguire was made Manchester United captain in 2019 before he had even kicked a ball for the club.
While it began well with a 4-0 win over Chelsea which Harry Maguire lauds as his best moment in a United shirt, the defender still has a lot to prove.
Unfortunately despite being only a back-up option for United at present, Harry Maguire does not believe he has anything to prove.
And these comments are worrying, because at Manchester United and the elite level in general, you always have something to prove.
Harry Maguire’s comments
Quoted ahead of England’s victory over Ukraine on Sunday, Harry Maguire told The Times that he does not warrant criticism this season.
He said: “I’m 30 years old but I shouldn’t really need to prove myself at this level. I’ve 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’re the captain of Manchester United you do come under the most amount of scrutiny.
“Last season at club level, my performance wasn’t good enough, alongside everybody else at club level, not just myself struggled. Everyone else struggled.
“Obviously this season, I haven’t played as much as I’d like for my club but I feel my form’s been good this year.”
Wayne Rooney would disagree
You can make the argument that criticism of Harry Maguire’s performances has at times been over the top, however, Maguire should accept he has something to prove every time he steps on the football pitch. This is the mentality which makes top players great.
Just ask Wayne Rooney, Manchester United’s record goalscorer, who spelled this out back in 2016 when he was at the tail end of his time at Old Trafford.
Rooney told The Times: “You always feel you have to prove yourself every season, because it’s a dream to play for them but there is pressure to be successful.
“You always feel pressure when you play for Manchester United. It’s one of the biggest — if not the biggest — clubs in the world and it’s been a pleasure and a privilege to play for them for so long.”
Rooney’s comments demonstrate a player brought through under Sir Alex Ferguson‘s guidance. The great man always warned his players that if they let their standards slip, they would be replaced, and often followed through.
Maguire has not ‘made it’ simply because he is a Manchester United player, he cannot rest on his laurels and demand respect. He has to earn it.
This is what separates also-rans from true winners. Casemiro made this one of his top motivations to sign for Manchester United, a desire to prove himself all over again.
The Brazilian told Real Madrid’s website in an exit interview: “I’ve made history at this club, it’s not going to change. I have to prove myself at Manchester United. I’ve won nothing there and I want to help the team. I want to like I’ve helped at Madrid. I’m looking forward to this new challenge.”
Casemiro has already won one trophy at Manchester United, and is determined to add more. Whether Maguire will be sticking around beyond this season with him, is currently looking questionable.
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