The British football scene was shaken by the recent managerial change at Manchester United, where Ruben Amorim’s ideas failed to take off. After a tumultuous period, Harry Maguire, the 33-year-old center-back, is back in the England squad, a return that many feared had come to an end. In a revealing interview with the Daily Mail, Maguire shared his insecurities and the importance of the new era under Thomas Tuchel’s leadership.
“There was a time when I thought I wouldn’t come back,” Maguire confessed, reflecting on his absence from the call-ups. “Probably at the end of last season when I wasn’t selected for the summer camp. In the three autumn camps, I had an inconsistent start to the season due to injuries, so I didn’t think I should have been picked.” The center-back believes that the change in management at United was crucial for his resurgence in the national team.
The transition from Ruben Amorim to Michael Carrick in January proved crucial for Maguire’s career. Since then, he has established himself as a pillar in the Red Devils’ defense, which now holds a promising position in third place in the Premier League. The tactical shift from a three-man defense to a four-man defense was a turning point, especially since Tuchel also employs a four-man defense, which seems to suit Maguire’s playing style better.
“The question when playing in a three-man defense is whether you can play in a four-man defense,” the defender explained. “When you play with a five-man defense and you are the one in the middle, people automatically think that, because you are a bit older, you can’t move as much and that you are protected. Which is true to some extent, but I’ve always said I prefer to play in a four-man defense. I feel I can be more aggressive, play higher up. That is a big part of my game.”
Maguire also spoke about Ruben Amorim’s time at Old Trafford, praising the Portuguese coach. “I don’t have much bad to say about Ruben. I really like him, I think he has great ideas. The ideas just didn’t work at Manchester United. I believe he will have a fantastic career. It just didn’t fit, and I think we, the players, also have to take a lot of responsibility for that.”
With fierce competition for places in the England squad, Maguire finds himself in an intense battle for a spot in the final selection, facing names like John Stones, Marc Guéhi, Dan Burn, and Ezri Konsa. However, the center-back’s confidence is unwavering: “I have a great belief in myself. I am a top-level center-back,” he concluded, showcasing the determination that could be the key to his future in international football.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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