Nemanja Vidic Thinks Harry Maguire Should Only Play Against Easier Opponents, Drop Him For Big Games

Nemanja Vidic thinks Manchester United captain Harry Maguire could benefit from being left out of Ralf Rangnick's team for the "harder matches" in a bid to regain some confidence.

In terms of his overall form, Maguire has struggled to hit the heights of last summer's performances for England at the European Championship. His poor form domestically has led to suggestions that the centre-back should be dropped from the team indefinitely.

Last month, after the club's 4-1 defeat to league leaders Manchester City, former United forward Dimitar Berbatov said Maguire should be taken out of the firing line. "Ralf Rangnick can step in here," the Bulgarian told Betfair. "Maybe he needs to give Maguire a rest and give somebody else a chance."

There has been plenty of discussion surrounding Maguire's form of late and now, former United defender Nemanja Vidic has suggested that Rangnick could indeed step in and play the England international in "easier games" to find such much-needed confidence.

"Every player has a problem with form at some time in his career," Vidic told The Athletic. "I did and it's clear that Maguire is not at his best this season

"I think you can do a few things and one of them is not to play every match as you try to find form again and get confidence. A coach could play him in easier games, not that there are many in the Premier League, and take him out for harder matches.

"The player needs to feel powerful and strong on the pitch again, not as it is now where he feels that it's not happening for him. It's difficult to play well when you're under so much pressure because people are waiting for you to make a mistake. You're asking me this and I'm replying as a coach."

Another former United legend, Gary Pallister, branded Maguire a "natural leader" and suggested the defender will "come back to his very best."

Speaking to BoyleSports, Pallister said: "There's no getting away from the fact he's not in the best of form. I thought he had a decent game against Tottenham. The own goal came at a bad time but that happens to the very best, that's just a fluke.

"People say he hasn't done this or that, but I think he's been the natural leader for United over the last few seasons.

"I think he's been pretty good in a United shirt up until this season. I think he'll come back to his very best and, in the future, I think he and [Raphael] Varane will be the partnership at the back."

He added: "There are factors to why he's had a dip in form but, ultimately, Harry has been pretty good and he's the only one who seems to be the natural leader in the dressing room.

"That seems to be a big problem for United. I played with four, five captains in the teams I played in and I don't see too many natural leaders with that character and when things are tough in games, those characters can lead you through moments in matches and right now we haven't got them kind of leaders on the pitch."