Harry Maguire 'stood on wrong side of tunnel' prior to Brighton loss

Harry Maguire appeared to stand on the wrong side of the tunnel prior to Manchester United's defeat to Brighton on Sunday.

The United skipper lined up on the right side of the tunnel and the rest of his teammates followed suit at Old Trafford.

But the decision was a perplexing one given United have had a long-time tradition of walking out onto the pitch from the opposite side of the tunnel.

Maguire has done that plenty of times since he took over the United captaincy from Ashley Young but seemed to forget on this particular occasion.

In a video which has widely circulated on social media, David De Gea was stood behind his captain and looked quite confused.

He can then be seen pointing to his left and conversing with Maguire, who then had to tell opposite number Lewis Dunk to get his team to swap sides.

It wasn't quite as awkward as that Peter Schmeichel and Gary Neville exchange in the tunnel ahead of the Manchester derby in 2002, but it garnered plenty of reaction on social media:

However, a possible explanation for the slight mishap from Maguire could be the fact that new manager Erik ten Hag has made a huge in regards to the dug-out.

United's substitutes and coaching staff are now seated in what was previously the away dug-out, which is closer to the Stretford End and the tunnel.

Ten Hag requested the alteration upon his first visit back in May when he signed his contract and the club announced it on their official website.

“In a new lay-out agreed with Erik, the home and away dugouts have been permanently switched so that the United manager, staff and substitutes will now be sat in the seats to the west of the half-way line – the dugout previously occupied by the away team,” United said.

"Erik approved the move after visiting Old Trafford for the first time in May and noting how the old away dugout was closer to the tunnel, and to the half of the pitch where substitutes warm up.

“Switching sides will also position the home staff and players closer to the Stretford End – the traditional heart of the home support – and align the dugouts with the halves of the pitch in which the home and away teams warm up before the game.”

But the change hasn't brought United much luck at home thus far. After drawing against Rayo Vallecano, the Red Devils lost the first game of the season 2-1 to Brighton, who recorded their first ever win at Old Trafford.

United will look to bounce back away at Brentford on Saturday and pick up their first points of the season going into the clash with Liverpool at Anfield on 22 August.

Featured Image Credit: Image: Twitter

Topics: Harry Maguire, Manchester United, Premier League, David De Gea

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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