It’s a comeback that not many people had anticipated. Invited to leave the club last summer, Harry Maguire chose to stay at Manchester United, even though he appeared very far down the hierarchy behind Lisandro Martínez, Raphaël Varane, Victor Lindelöf and even Luck Shaw, sometimes placed back in the team. axis or even the veteran Johnny Evans. The first two months were particularly difficult for him, spending only 26 minutes (two appearances) on the pitch but since October everything has changed. The Englishman has returned to favor to the point of being Erik ten Hag’s unbreakable in his hinge.
“He knows what I expect from him,” the Dutchman warned in mid-August. I’ve been here for a year now and you know what I expect from a central defender. It’s about showing his character, being convinced to play this role, he has all the abilities to do it and it’s up to him to play when the opportunity is there. A speech heard. Since October 7, Maguire has not left the starting lineup and has not missed a single minute of play in all competitions. As if the loss of the captain’s armband left to Bruno Fernandes had freed him from a responsibility too great for him.
From undesirable to defense captain in two months
He can take care of himself, and him alone. After eating his black bread, he was able to reverse the order of things, also taking advantage of the circumstances. Lisandro Martínez injured his foot in mid-September and still has no return date, as does Tyrell Malacia. Luke Shaw also went through the infirmary, while Raphaël Varane is experiencing a decline in performance. If the Red Devils’ results are still irregular, even if they are only three points from 4th place, virtually qualifying for the Champions League, the central defender’s performances are returning to the heights reached during Leicester’s time.
For his second start of the season, he was voted player of the match against Sheffield United. “Harry plays the way we want, dominating the opponent. I am satisfied with its performance. Yesterday he deserved the man of the match title. He was very good and read the game very well. I’m happy for him.”, reacted Ten Hag. Since then, he has not given up and has even asserted himself as the strong element of the hinge, alongside Lindelöf most of the time. The month of November was simply perfect on the national scene: three matches, three victories, no goals conceded.
Voted Premier League Player of the Month for November
Enough to be rewarded with the Player of the Month trophy by the Premier League, a great first for him. “I couldn’t have done it without my teammates, the staff and you, the fans. Your love and support does not go unnoticed”, he reacted on social networks. The supporters precisely, cause of many problems for the defender, target of easy and repeated mockery for months, even years. The fault is a disproportionate transfer (€87 million in 2019) making him the most expensive central defender in history, a suit that’s a little too big, a lanky physique and a small number of errors too.
In a sea of bad news (the Greenwood and Antony affairs, the controversy around Sancho, a dragging out sale of the club and irregular results), the resurrection of Harry Maguire is welcome. Enough to also mute the criticism of his presence in the England team, he who still has 62 caps (7 goals). West Ham can always come back this winter, the 30-year-old player, under contract until 2025, should not move anywhere. His transfer is now a non-issue. Nobody expected it three months ago but it is Manchester United who are rubbing their hands.
