Jamie Carragher has explained why Harry Maguire will find it harder to bounce back from his current loss in form than past and England players.
Maguire has received much criticism for his performances for United this season from fans and pundits alike, but that hit new highs on Tuesday night when the centre-back was routinely booed by home supporters during England’s 3-0 win over the Ivory Coast at Wembley.
While Gareth Southgate and his England players have condemned this action, it is unlikely to change supporters’ views on Maguire, who prior to this season was widely viewed as an excellent defender and a cult-hero after helping the Three Lions reach the semi-final in 2018 and the Euro’s final last summer.
Writing in his column for , the former Liverpool defender believes that the next few months are pivotal for the 29-year-old’s career, and unlike some former United and England heroes, he is facing a battle on all fronts.
He wrote: ‘England players have often taken abuse from their own crowd – including some of the greatest the country has ever produced. John Barnes, David Beckham and Wayne Rooney are among those who suffered for different reasons.
‘The difference with them is the more criticism they took playing for their country, the more their club supporters loved them. They found sanctuary at their club and made the critics look foolish with world-class performances. There is no such comfort for Maguire.
‘It will hurt that the Old Trafford criticism has spread to Wembley.’
With the World Cup later this year, it seems unlikely that Three Lions regular Maguire will fail to make the plane to Qatar, but his place at United is less clear, with a new manager set to take over in the summer and as Carragher points out, his role as the Red Devils’ skipper is also under threat.
‘Maguire’s difficulty in turning it around at Old Trafford is his lack of authority in the United dressing room,’ he added. ‘Since last summer, Maguire has been looking over his shoulder amid a debate as to whether he or should be captain.
‘Rather than reassert his leadership, he has fallen short. That has affected his performances.’
Nevertheless, Carragher, citing from personal experience, believes Maguire can turnaround his current predicament, writing: ‘There are always two options; accept defeat and go somewhere where you might feel more appreciated, or fight on to get the supporters back on side.
‘Only a strong character can recover from this, but such challenges are common during the course of a career.’
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