"There’s A Narrative Around Harry Maguire, He's A Very Good Defender!”

Harry Maguire has been backed as a 'very good defender' with the criticism around the Manchester United defender blown off as 'narrative.'

Ever since Maguire became the world's most expensive defender ever, when he joined United for £80 million in August 2019 to beat the record previously held by Virgil van Dijk, there has been lots of criticism for the centre back.

The former Leicester City centre back, who became United captain just a few months after moving to Old Trafford, has had many high profile errors during his time at the club.

United's defence has improved in recent times and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has relied heavily on his captain, who has barely missed any football since joining the club.

Now talkSPORT pundit Adrian Durham has backed the 28-year-old, claiming that criticism of the former Hull City player was just about 'narrative.'

Maguire was started once again as United beat Granada in the Europa League quarter finals on Thursday night, a game that was briefly interrupted by a streaker.

Once again the defence kept a clean sheet, although both Maguire and Luke Shaw will miss the second leg next week after picking up yellow cards.

He will be available for the weekend's game against Spurs, though some believe he was lucky to not give away a penalty, and potentially get sent off, for a potential foul on Danny Welbeck last weekend.

Despite the errors in his game, Maguire's importance to United in unquestionable and it's not just his club team that rely on him to be availalble.

According to Gary Neville, the United centre back's fitness is more important to England, ahead of this summer's Euros, than any other player in the squad, including Harry Kane.

"If you lose Harry Maguire that's a big problem for Gareth Southgate. I think it's his biggest problem," the former United full back told Sky Sports.

"If you're then left with John Stones as your other centre-back and you think you've got Stones and [Tyrone] Mings, Stones and [Conor] Coady, Stones and [Eric] Dier I'm not having it.

"Harry Kane's the best player in the squad but in this particular squad if Gareth wants a back-four in the squad and go for a 4-3-3 formation, the only chance of that is keeping Harry Maguire fit."

Maguire's price to United might still seem on the heavy side but there's little doubt the Premier League's second placed side would be struggling to keep that spot without him.

Topics: Harry Maguire, Football, Manchester United, Premier League

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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