Harry Maguire says his Man United lows would have broken other players as he eyes England World Cup spot | OneFootball

Harry Maguire has offered a candid assessment of the immense pressure at Manchester United, suggesting the challenges he has faced would have "broken" many other players.

The defender, who signed a new one-year deal with an option for a further season earlier this week, believes some teammates found the spotlight too intense to handle.

Maguire's United career began in 2019, arriving from Leicester for a then world-record £80million fee for a defender. Despite making 266 appearances and securing FA Cup and Carabao Cup victories, his tenure has seen significant highs and lows.

Appointed captain by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2020, his form dipped as the Norwegian's reign concluded, leading to him losing his place under Erik ten Hag and the armband to Bruno Fernandes. He appeared poised for a West Ham move in summer 2023.

Maguire credits a "laid-back attitude" and a refusal to engage with "outside noise" for his ability to navigate these hurdles and re-establish himself as a key figure. He noted the departure of numerous high-profile signings who failed to deliver.

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Harry Maguire said he has seen many players who are unable to hand the scrutiny that comes with playing for Manchester United (PA)

"I see a lot of players come into this club and quite frankly it’s just too big for them," Maguire stated. "The eyes on you, the scrutiny, the analysis. Every goal that goes in, it’s someone’s fault. There’s going to be ex-players speaking about it. That’s just part and parcel of playing for this club."

Asked if his experiences would have overwhelmed lesser players, Maguire responded: "Probably. I think there’ll be a lot who want to maybe just close the book and just go elsewhere and restart their career. I think it’s probably broken them a little bit earlier."

Reflecting on his own nadir, he added: "I think it got to a point where it got really that low, the mocking and the abuse – if you want to call it abuse – that there was only one way it could go."

Since Michael Carrick took charge in mid-January, Maguire has been an ever-present fixture, contributing to United's ascent to third place and re-entering Champions League contention. He now expresses confidence the club is on a trajectory to reclaim its position at the pinnacle of English football.

"I don’t think there’s any ceiling on it, looking at the Premier League at the moment," he asserted. "I think over the last few years you’ve obviously had Manchester City, who were really tough to catch, and before the start of the season you knew you had to put a points tally together and it (took) some going to catch them.

“I think next season you look at it and I think we’ve got to be in the bracket where if we get the recruitment right and everything’s positive from now to the end of the season and we keep going on the curve, there’s no ceiling to where we can reach. We’ve got to be in the conversation to go and win the big trophies."

Before the 2026-27 season comes around, England will head to North America to play in this summer’s World Cup.

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Harry Maguire scored his first England goal in a World Cup quarter-final win over Sweden at the 2018 World Cup (PA)

Maguire admitted he is “desperate” to be part of Thomas Tuchel’s squad, asserting his belief that he remains one of the world’s top defenders.

The United player’s recent resurgence at club level has put him back in contention for what he anticipates will be his final World Cup.

Maguire earned his first international call-up in 18 months in March, featuring in both friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.

This return to the national setup followed a challenging period, including an incident in September 2023 where he was mocked by Scotland fans after scoring an own goal during England’s 3-1 victory at Hampden Park – a moment he described as one of his career’s lowest points. He has since made only seven England appearances.

Despite Tuchel indicating that Maguire currently sits behind Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, John Stones, and the injured Trevoh Chalobah in the defensive pecking order, the 33-year-old remains resolute.

"Of course, I’m desperate to go," Maguire stated. "I think it would be my last World Cup for my country. I’ve been to two, I missed out on the Euros two years ago through injury, which just hurt a lot really.

“So I’m desperate to go, whatever role the manager would want me for, whether that’s starting or whether it’s deciding games late on."

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Maguire hopes to force his way into Tuchel’s World Cup plans (PA)

Maguire expressed confidence in his enduring ability, adding: "I still believe, even at my age, I’m arguably one of the best defenders in the world in both boxes. I don’t think that’s in question really. That can be really effective later on in games, whether you’re holding on to a lead or trying to chase a game."

He continued: "I still think there’s an important part that I can play, that I can help. If that’s the case, I’m sure the manager will pick me if he believes the same. We’ll see."

Maguire has a history of performing on the biggest stages for England, scoring his first international goal in the 2018 World Cup quarter-final against Sweden.

He was also named in the Euro 2020 team of the tournament following impressive displays against Germany and Ukraine, and his performances at the 2022 World Cup garnered praise despite his club difficulties at the time.

Reflecting on his career, Maguire concluded: "I do believe in my career, if you look through my career in the finals that I’ve played and the big games that I’ve been to, the bigger the games are, it seems like the better I do."