Manchester United captain Harry Maguire did not have the best of seasons in 2021/22 — nor did the club as a whole. In a recent Q & A on the Reds’ pre-season tour, however, the skipper admitted that ups and downs are just part and parcel of the game at the highest level.
Maguire took to the stage during a question and answer session with supporters at the team hotel in Melbourne and opened up about the adversities of last season.
“Listen, last year was disappointing,” the England international said. “As an individual, I didn’t play well and as a team, we certainly didn’t play well. But a good career can last 10 to 15 years and you’re never going to have every year where it’s plain sailing and you don’t have any difficulties.”
The 29-year-old put last year’s recurring turbulences into some solid perspective. Footballers are only human after all.
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In life, you’re allowed bad days at the office. Unfortunately, or otherwise, in the case of Maguire and his teammates, every single little error is magnified because of the pedestal their day job gets put on.
A famous Rocky saying goes something like ‘It’s not about how hard you can hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.’ United were certainly out for the count at several stages of last season, but the captain says they have to put it in the rear view now.
“You’re going to have to fight and you’re going to have setbacks,” Maguire continued. “Last year was certainly a setback for myself on my career path but it’s behind us now and we look forward to the future and getting this club back to winning trophies, which is what it’s all about.”
United were dumped out of all cups relatively quickly and finished sixth in the Premier League with a goal difference of zero after being led by three different managers. You could not get much further away from stability.
While the whole team was underperforming, Maguire as the captain was on the receiving end of the most flack. He seemed to have taken every blow on the chin, but constant questions regarding your fit for the role could not have been nice to see in the media on such a consistent basis.
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However, in spite of speculation about United’s captaincy ahead of next season, new boss Erik ten Hag has already made it clear that Maguire will continue in the role — a much needed bit of reassurance for the former Leicester man.
Ten Hag’s Reds’ have 180 minutes of pre-season football under their belts and two wins that have fans around the world very excited about the future. United first took care of Liverpool 4-0 before putting four more goals past Melbourne Victory in a 4-1 win on Friday.
At the fan event, Maguire also gave his two cents on the pre-season training under the new boss and how important this preparation period is to get ready for the new season when — as always — United will be held to lofty standards.
On pre-season, Maguire said: “It’s been tough. The running has been hard but we’re really looking forward to the season. Everyone — the players, the club — know last year was nowhere near good enough but it’s a fresh start and we’ve got a big season ahead.”
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Addressing the new boss and his staff, United’s No. 5 was encouraged by the early progress showing on the pitch.
“Erik (Ten Hag) and his coaching staff are bringing their ideas and in the first two games, you’ve seen little glimpses of the principals,” Maguire said. ”We’re working hard towards being ready for that first Premier League game, that’s what matters. Everything we’re doing now is building for that first game.”
United take on Crystal Palace in Melbourne in game number three of the tour of Thailand and Australia before relocating to Perth for one more run out against Aston Villa.
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The Reds will then have two more games — against Atletico Madrid and Rayo Vallecano — back in Europe before the Premier League season gets underway next month against Brighton.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Manchester United, Harry Maguire, Erik Ten Hag, Football, Premier League