• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Nemanja Vidic Thinks Harry Maguire Should Only Play Against Easier Opponents, Drop Him For Big Games

Home> Football

Updated 10:41 23 Sep 2022 GMT+1Published 12:47 10 Apr 2022 GMT+1

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

The former Manchester United defender thinks Ralf Rangnick should take him out of the team for harder games.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

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."

Image credit: Alamy
Image credit: Alamy

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."

Image credit: Alamy
Image credit: Alamy

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."

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Harry Maguire, Manchester United, Nemanja Vidic, Premier League

Jack Kenmare
Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

X

@jackkenmare_

Choose your content:

9 hours ago
12 hours ago
13 hours ago
14 hours ago
  • 9 hours ago

    FIFA has banned five football kits for life that you'll never see again

    Club World Cup finalists Chelsea and PSG have been hit by FIFA’s ban on sleeve advertising rule

    Football
  • 12 hours ago

    Xabi Alonso has found the next Florian Wirtz for Real Madrid without spending anything

    The new Real Madrid boss may have uncovered a gem in the squad who could be the next Florian Wirtz.

    Football
  • 13 hours ago

    Chelsea set their asking price for Nicolas Jackson as shock club register interest and it looks like a typo

    Enzo Maresca has named his price to sell Nicolas Jackson this summer, amid links to a European giant.

    Football
  • 14 hours ago

    Rodrygo has already told Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea which club he wants to play for next season

    The Brazilian star has been linked with a move away from Real Madrid this summer.

    Football