Speaking to the Gary Neville podcast, Gary Neville said that the up and down last 18 months that Harry Maguire has experienced and the fact he has come through it well with his England World Cup performances, it will make him feel like “bulletproof” when he returns to United.
It is fair to say that Maguire had a challenging 2021/22 campaign as United from a sign of progress by finishing second the year before, finished in a disappointing sixth place under interim boss Ralf Rangnick and as captain Maguire took a lot of criticism.
Gary Neville likened the situation to Maguire’s England team-mate, Marcus Rashford, who also suffered setbacks for United and England last season. At international level, he missed his penalty in England’s 2020 Euro final against Italy, which did not help his confidence and he also missed the start of that season as he was recovering from surgery on his shoulder.
Last season for United, Rashford only managed to score five goals in all competitions, and in just 19 appearances in all competitions, he has surpassed that tally as he has scored eight goals [Transfermarkt.com].
However, fast forward to now, it is a different story because Rashford is now performing for both United and England on the biggest stage, where he is the current top goalscorer at the World Cup in Qatar.
Rashford on McCarthy:
“He’s definitely helped me a lot!”Marcus looks so hungry to score these days, some credit to this man.👏 pic.twitter.com/DldA2EOCVX
— 𝗧𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗴’𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘀 ✍🏼🇳🇱 (@TenHagBall_) November 29, 2022
His United team-mate Harry Maguire had a difficult season last season as he was at fault for some of the goals that United conceded last year and as a result of those errors, he lost his confidence, meaning that he did not defend, pass and dribble with the same conviction that served him so well under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
However, just like his fellow England team-mate, Maguire has performed well at the World Cup for England as it seems as though he has gone back to what he is good at, which is passing out from the back, winning headers and his ball progression seems to be back as he went on that run with the ball into box against Wales, which is a sign that Maguire’s game is in good order.
Manchester United players at the World Cup so far:
🇵🇹 Bruno Fernandes – ⚽⚽🅰️🅰️
🏴 Marcus Rashford – ⚽⚽⚽
🏴 Luke Shaw – 🅰️🔒🔒
🏴 Harry Maguire – 🅰️🔒🔒
🇧🇷 Casemiro – ⚽
🇦🇷 Lisandro Martinez – 🔒On the biggest stage. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/QNTFA84JEu
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) November 29, 2022
Gary Neville said that Maguire’s performances for England should do him the world of good as when talking to Martin Tyler, he said that “So for Harry to play the first games like he has, I think is a massive success and gives him great confidence.
Harry Maguire’s game by numbers vs. USA:
94 touches
88% pass accuracy
71 passes completed
8 long balls completed
8 clearances
3/4 aerial duels won
1 interception
1 block
1/1 dribble completedMopped things up at the back. 🧹 pic.twitter.com/iKX28RjPXL
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) November 25, 2022
“Harry is a good player and a good centre-back who has been brilliant at the last two tournaments – he’s just had an awful time at United in the last 12 months and United is a very unforgiving place, I know that from being there for 20 years,” the former United captain said.
“If something isn’t right, that place can eat you alive, and Harry is just getting that at the moment.
‘But I think he will come through it at United. Look at Marcus, he’s been through a difficult period where he probably thought “is my own club turning on me, is my own city not mine anymore? Do I need to move somewhere else? But he’s come out of it the other side.”
“There are great players that I played with at United who went through the same sort of experience, where it was tough for them for a period. They came through it, were better for it and they’re more resilient.
“I don’t think Rashford or Maguire when they come out of this tournament will feel phased or lacking in confidence anymore.”
