adminMELBOURNE. – Harry Maguire was ruthlessly booed by Manchester United fans every time he touched the ball at the start of yesterday’s friendly against Crystal Palace.
Maguire, who has retained his captaincy following the arrival of boss Erik ten Hag, led the team out to jeers and the vitriol continued inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground when he got his first few touches.
The jeers specifically targeted Maguire and audible boos were heard from a crowd that was predominantly made up of Manchester United fans.
Like many of his team-mates, Maguire endured a torrid 2021-22 season and is in desperate need of a reboot.
The England international anchored a United defence that shipped 57 goals in the Premier League last season, four more than Burnley, who got relegated.
That led to some fans calling for Maguire to be stripped of the captaincy.
But question marks over his competency as captain have been quickly shrugged off by Ten Hag, who gave him a voice of confidence as the leader of the dressing room.
“Harry Maguire is the captain. He’s an established captain, he’s achieved a lot of success, so I don’t doubt this issue,” Ten Hag said.
The Dutch boss later added: “Harry is really impressive and I expect a lot from him. I always see the captaincy as an issue that I dictate.
“The team building for me is an important point and I always talk about a group of leaders. The captain is a really important one and I’m happy with him.”
Raphael Varane missed out on the friendly with Palace as Maguire started alongside Victor Lindelof at the centre of defence.
Maguire will now face competition for his starting spot following the £55million arrival of Lisandro Martinez.
Martinez may need time to adapt but Ten Hag was in no mood when he sat down with reporters recently to offer any guarantees to Maguire about starts.
“There is internal competition and that is what a club like Man United needs,” he said.
“You cannot win with 11 players. We need a squad, especially this season with so many games.
“I think [Maguire] is (a first-choice player). He’s proved it in the past but he has also to prove it in the present and in the future. I will support him everywhere I can. In the end, he has to do it by himself, and he has the qualities to do it.” – Mailonline
Online Reporter