Updated at 18.37
MANCHESTER UNITED manager Eric ten Hag says he is “convinced” Harry Maguire can turn his form around after another error-strewn display in England’s Nations League match against Germany.
Maguire, ruled out of United’s derby at Manchester City on Sunday due to injury, gave away a penalty against Germany on Monday and lost possession before the visitors’ second goal in the 3-3 draw.
His latest sub-par performance led to renewed talk about whether the 29-year-old defender, who has been out of form and favour at United, should still be in the England team, just weeks away from the World Cup.
But Ten Hag, like England boss Gareth Southgate, retains faith in Maguire and is certain he will improve.
“First of all, of course I have to coach him, I have to back him,” Ten Hag said at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
“But I back him because I believe in him. In the period I worked with him in pre-season he was good, I think I would say really good — training and games.
“Then he fell out (of the starting line-up) but it’s also to do with the good performance of the centre-backs who are playing now.”
Argentina’s Lisandro Martinez and France international Raphael Varane have been Ten Hag’s preferred centre-back partnership in recent games.
Ten Hag said everyone in United’s squad and on their coaching staff still believe in the former Leicester centre-back, who picked up a knock on England duty.
“Now it is about him,” he said. “That is what I told him. I’m sure he can do it. He will turn around this. I am really convinced of that.”
United’s match on Sunday will be their first Premier League outing since they beat Arsenal 3-1 on September 4 — the Crystal Palace and Leeds fixtures were called off following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Ten Hag also said Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial were doubts for Sunday’s game.
Good man Harry taking one for the team
Should that headline not read United Handed Injury Boost
Maguire is no Steve Bruce, but absolutely no William pruiner either,price tag certainly never did him justice. he’s first two seasons were very good with utd but sadly badly out of form now and the knives are out. Maybe a move would do him the world of good and playing in a team with a back 3?
@Pauly Kel: agreed pauly. There is a very good defender in Maguire. Anyone who says different is clueless. As you say, he is completely shot of any sort of confidence at the moment.
@Brian Dunne: can see how he is a easy target these days Brian,the lads confidence is clearly at rock bottom, I remember him been a very good defender in he’s early years with utd or he’s tournaments with England, Hopefully he can rediscover that form again with utd or another club, the lad has been vindicated on social media from all angles.
@Brian Dunne: He’s bleeding muck.
@Marcus Suridius: grand bit of nuance. He’s a decent defender and had similar stats to VVD in his first season when everyone was venerating him. Generally hasn’t been helped by a bone idle midfield in the last few seasons giving the defence no support either. Maybe now ten hag is getting a tune out of mcsauce and with casemiro and eriksen that will begin to help his game. Confidence is rock bottom and southgate probably shouldn’t have kept him on the whole game. His two mistakes the other night reeked of a fella lacking match sharpness.
@Brian Dunne: The words very good defender and Maguire should never be used in the same sentence. Some proper b.s you’ve spouted there Brian in fairness to ya.
@James horgan: like i said, clueless.
@Brian Dunne: One of earliest things Ten Haag did as coach of Man united was get Maguire out of the team. Guess he fits into your “clueless” bracket so aswell Brian. After been relegated twice and never won anything. Very good defenders normally win at least 1 major trophy and usually don’t suffer 2 relegations. Think its time to ask yourself who’s really the clueless one here.
@James horgan: Milner, Adam, Bellamy were all relegated with their clubs that didn’t stop lfc from buying them
@Pauly Kel: or does that mean they are poor players also?
@Pauly Kel: Robertson & wijnaldum aswell. Genuinely think Maguire is nowhere close to Utd standard and it’s hard to have a player that cost that much as a back up. Best for all concerned to flog him to Newcastle or someone with money. What other top team would he get a regular start in? Can’t think of any
@Johno Farrell: yes very good shout johno Robertson and wijnaldum also.I think a transfer be good for both parties, unfortunately with the big wages utd players are on its very hard to move on some of them on.
@Pauly Kel: Milner and Bellamy won things in their career, something Maguire has yet to do. Andy Robertson was also relegated with Hull but has won everything on offer in club football with Liverpool. Maguire has suffered 2 relegations and won sweet f all, which is hard to understand when he’s a “very good defender” in some people’s deluded heads. Who’s Adam. Hope your not on about Charlie Adam cause he was absolutely rubbish and even he won a league Cup
@James horgan: I’m not here backing maguire as a world class defender he is badly out of form and the money utd spent on him was criminal. The chap is getting it from all angles at the moment but in the past few season he must been a very good player to be the first to be included in the World Cup team of the tournament, Euro team of the tournament and epl team of the season. Worth 80mil??not a chance.. But then again who is? Hope he rediscovers he’s form with utd or another clubs these boys are millionaires no doubt but like all can have other things going on..
@Pauly Kel: El hadji diouf got on a world Cup team of the tournament and lukaku got on a euros team of the tournament. Means nothing other than they had a good 3 or 4 weeks. Wouldn’t read nothing into those things
Haaland is going to boss around Martinez I reckon.
@Cathal Carr: he didn’t before when Ajax played Dortmund in the champions league. In fact, Ajax won 4-0. Martinez kept him quiet.
That’s a big blow to Man City chances
Overrated to begin with, overpriced, has won nothing with the supposed biggest team in the world and Utd’s recent decent form he’s not been starting…time running out for Harry!
@Damien Leen: you have finally crawled out from under your rock… International break is over damo is back…
@Pauly Kel: I have paulo…isn’t it time you crawled out from underneath your bridge ya troll…
@Damien Leen: troll?? Says ya man.,it only takes a utd article to bring damo back out from under your rock..
@Pauly Kel: good to be back ;-)
Lump on a United win so
As a United fan this is excellent news.
How many years is he trying to recover form??
Praise dee lawd!