Newly appointed manager Erik Ten Hag has reportedly asked Harry Maguire for a meeting regarding the captaincy of the club.
The English defender has had a torrid time at Old Trafford. It was a strange decision by ex-manager Ole Gunnar Soljskaer to hand him the armband The departure of Ashley Young to Inter Milan prompted a need for a new leader. And Maguire was the one chosen for the responsibility.
It is safe to say that the decision has not panned out well. Maguire has been under constant scrutiny over his performances. His leadership skills too have come under question for being too passive at times. Many speculate that his being a constant starter may be due to his enormous price tag.
This story may have limbs though. Maguire played 37 games for United and was never particularly impressive. Yet, both Ole Gunnar Soljskaer and Ralf Ragnick played him consistently.
A decision on his captaincy will be made once the English defender returns for pre-season, according to The Sun.
In Defence Of Maguire
Harry Maguire has had his critics, and for the right reasons as well. His performances have not been up to the mark, and in moments he has made comical errors.
But he still has had some good runs of form. He is limited for sure but has a skill set that can be utilized in a proper system. A case in point can be his performance in the European Championship in 2021. He formed an imperious partnership with John Stones, and the pair conceded only a single goal from open play.
Even when he has been out of the United team, their defence has not fared any better. This may point toward some border tactical issues. The game against Arsenal at The Emirates is a good example of that. Perhaps the arrival of Ten Hag can resolve some of them.
There is no arguing that Maguire needs to step his game up. But it would only be fair if he gets an opportunity under the new boss to redeem himself.
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