Harry Maguire has opened up on his dynamic with Sir Gareth Southgate for England and the difference with playing under Michael Carrick for Manchester United.
The 33-year-old former Manchester United captain was called back up to the England squad for the March international break under Thomas Tuchel.
Thomas Tuchel had replaced Sir Gareth Southgate as England head coach in 2025 and Harry Maguire’s turnaround in form caught the eye of the Three Lions manager.
Maguire had been a key player for former England manager Southgate and the United and Three Lions defender was often praised for his performances under him.
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Harry Maguire on Michael Carrick’s Man Utd tactics vs Sir Gareth Southgate’s tactical approach for England
Harry Maguire now has a chance to ‘audition’ for England’s 2026 World Cup squad after being brought back into the fold under Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions reign.
The Three Lions international has started all 10 of Michael Carrick’s Premier League matches in charge as interim head coach after Ruben Amorim was sacked.
Carrick’s tactics for Manchester United saw the Red Devils pivot from Ruben Amorim’s three-man backline and revert to using a back-four defence.
Maguire had experience of playing in a back three and four under Sir Gareth Southgate, but the consistency under one approach from Carrick has benefited him.
“Obviously, Michael has come in and he’s changed the formation and playing in a back four […] I personally prefer playing in a back four,” he told The Daily Mirror.
“The best part of my career has been playing in a back four.
“I played a couple of times under Gareth Southgate in a back five, but that was only really the first tournament in Russia and then leading up [to] the Euros, where I felt like I was in [the] so-called best years of my career, it was playing in a back four.”
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How Michael Carrick’s system benefits Harry Maguire at Man Utd after Sir Gareth Southgate’s changes for England
Red Devils legend Carrick has relied on his one system since he replaced former United manager Ruben Amorim in the Old Trafford dugout back in January.
Lisandro Martinez had been Carrick’s preferred partner of choice for Maguire, but the 28-year-old Argentine defender has been absent in recent weeks due to an injury.
Maguire explained that he has always benefited from a four-man defence and he can be “more aggressive” with his playing style in the tactical set-up.
“When you’re playing a back five and you’re playing that middle one, automatically people think you’re a little bit older, can’t move as much,” he added.
“And you get protected, which you do actually get protected! But I’ve always said I much prefer playing in a back four.
“I feel like I can play more aggressive, play more on the front foot and I feel like that’s a big part of my game.”
Southgate, who has been linked with the Man Utd managerial post in the past, has been out of the dugout since he stepped down as England boss after Euro 2024.
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