Harry Maguire: United ace reveals his preferred defensive formation | OneFootball

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has been a constant presence at the back this season, even as the team shifted from a back three to a back four. The Red Devils started the campaign under former head coach Ruben Amorim, who deployed the Englishman largely as the central centre-back.

However, with results failing to improve, the Premier League giants opted to part ways with the Portuguese in January. Michael Carrick, who was appointed as caretaker manager until the end of the season, shifted to a back four upon his arrival.

Maguire has been a constant under the English manager, starting in all 10 games and helping the club pick up seven wins and two draws in the process.

Harry Maguire Stats: 2025/26 Season

Source: Transfermarkt.

United have looked defensively solid under Carrick and have conceded 11 goals in 10 games, while conceding 30 goals in 20 games under Amorim. Maguire has now opened up on the formation change.

Preference for a back-four

Speaking recently, as cited by The Mirror, Maguire revealed that he prefers to play in a back four. He said: “Obviously Michael has come in and he’s changed the formation and playing in a back four … I personally prefer playing in a back four. The best part of my career has been playing in a back four.”

“I played a couple of times under Gareth Southgate in a back five but that was only really the first tournament in Russia and then leading up the Euros, where I felt like I was in my so-called best years of my career, it was playing in a back four.”

“When you’re playing a back five and you’re playing that middle one, automatically people think you’re a little bit older, can’t move as much. And you get protected. Which you do actually get protected!”

“But I’ve always said I much prefer playing in a back four. I feel like I can play more aggressive, play more on the front foot and I feel like that’s a big part of my game.”

Nothing bad to say about Amorim

Maguire went on to shed light on his relationship with Amorim and tipped the Portuguese to bounce back. He said: “I think Ruben was really good with me. I pretty much played every game under Ruben when I was fit. I don’t really have much bad to say about Ruben. I really like Ruben, I think he’s got great ideas. The ideas just didn’t work at Manchester United.”

“I do believe he’ll go on and have an amazing career, and his next club he’ll probably go and win many, many football matches. It just didn’t click or work and I think us as players have got to take a lot of responsibility for that as well.”

“But I think he has led the club in a direction, and I do think he deserves a lot of credit for that, where he’s built a good, solid squad and I do believe that he deserves credit for that. I spoke to him when he left. He wished us all the best. I’m sure he would have been upset, but I know he’s still really, really young and I’m sure he’s going to go on to great things in management.”

Amorim has recently been linked with a sensational move to Benfica if Jose Mourinho leaves his position.

Final Thoughts

Maguire’s contract expires at the end of this season, but the player has already revealed that he is in talks to extend his stay. The Englishman’s continued presence could be vital in the development of younger defenders like Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven.

Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images

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