Manchester United legend Patrice Evra believes England fans should be “ashamed” after ‘bullying’ Harry Maguire ahead of the World Cup in Qatar.
Maguire, 29, was left battling for minutes at Old Trafford after the arrival of United manager Erik ten Hag, despite remaining club captain for the current season.
The United centre-back, who was heavily linked with Chelsea back in the summer transfer window, has been widely criticised for his poor run of form at Old Trafford.
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England manager Gareth Southgate kept faith in Maguire despite his club form and named him in his 26-man England squad for the World Cup.
Southgate started the United captain in all three of England’s Group B matches and Maguire has been lauded for his performances against Iran, the USA and Wales.
Maguire’s turn of fortune will no doubt be a major boost for the England boss ahead of the Three Lions’ round-of-16 clash against Senegal on Sunday.
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Speaking ahead of the Senegal match, Evra insisted that the England defender has “never disappointed” the Three Lions and hit out at those who “bullied” him.
The former United left-back also said that Maguire’s improved form in an England shirt should be seen in a positive light for the Premier League club.
“Harry Maguire has never disappointed in this England team. He never lets England down, so that’s why he plays,” Evra told Betfair.
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“So those fans who didn’t want him to play must feel ashamed of themselves now. United fans can have a say about Maguire, but England fans can’t have a say about Maguire.”
He added: “I’m so pleased with Maguire’s upturn in form because at one point, he started to get bullied. It wasn’t fair.
“Even when he was playing a good game for Man United, people would say he had a bad game and when he wasn’t playing, if we conceded a goal it was because Maguire was in the stands smiling. Like, come on.
“With what’s happening at Man United, people tried to apply the same pressure on him with England and it didn’t work.
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“I see many players who perform well for the club and they don’t perform well for their country.
“But some players perform well for their country and they don’t perform for their club.
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“That’s where Maguire is right now. This is good news for Man United because when he goes back to United, I hope he has the same attitude, the same discipline and to make sure when people talk, he thinks, ‘I’m a good player, I’m a good centre-back, I know what I can do.’”
Topics: Harry Maguire, Patrice Evra, England, Football World Cup, Football
Adnan Riaz