Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher insists that defender Harry Maguire is struggling to improve his form due to his lack of authority in the Manchester United dressing room.
The England international has put in a series of below-par performances this campaign - despite making into it the Euro 2020 team of the tournament last summer alongside Italy’s Leonardo Bonucci in defence.
The £80million man has faced an onslaught of criticism for his performances this season and become an unwanted poster boy for United's troubles.
To make matters worse, a section of Three Lions fans jeered Maguire's name when it was read out ahead of the game at Wembley and greeted his first few touches in similar fashion, as they sealed a 3-0 win over Ivory Coast on Tuesday evening.
The 29-year-old, however, continues to perform on international duty and Carragher believes his form at Old Trafford is down to failing to reassert himself as a leader.
Since the arrival of 37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo and the debates that he should take over the armband, Maguire has struggled to deal with the pressure.
'Maguire’s difficulty in turning it around at Old Trafford is his lack of authority in the United dressing room,' Carragher said in his Telegraph column.
'Since last summer, Maguire has been looking over his shoulder amid a debate as to whether he or Cristiano Ronaldo should be captain.
'Rather than reassert his leadership, he has fallen short. That has affected his performances.'
Maguire has been an integral part of Gareth Southgate's England side since the 2018 World Cup and has generally performed well for his country.
He was part of the England team which reached the final of last year's European Championship and the semi-finals of the World Cup in Russia four years ago.
But many questions his selection for this month's friendlies due to his club form, but the boss stuck by him.
Carragher, however, feels the former Leicester City centre-back can still save both his United and England career.
'Only one person can change the situation,' Carragher added.
'Maguire has to show he has the talent and strength of character to stay at Manchester United beyond this season, and remain the lynchpin of England’s defence at the World Cup.'
Sky Sports pundit Carragher also knows Maguire will have to adapt to a new manager this summer in order to do that.
Ajax manager Erik ten Hag and PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino remain the front-runners to replace interim head coach Ralf Rangnick.
'Elite coaches are determined to play a high-line defence. Whoever takes over at Old Trafford this summer will do likewise.
'That does not suit Maguire, especially as there is so much malfunctioning in the United team he is regularly exposed. This will be a problem for him going forward.'
HopeChilufya
484
2022 English Premier League examination (Attempt all questions) 1. Discuss the fall of MANCHESTER UNITED and the rise of ARSENAL FC in relation to season 2021/2022 (10mks) 2. Chelsea first signed ROMELU LUKAKU for £20m, sold him to EVERTON for £28m and later re-signed him from INTER MILAN for £97.5m. Prepare a profit and loss account. (15mks). 3. Write an essay on this proverb ''old is gold,'' in relation to Old trafford (20mks) 4. Calculate the probability of Manchester united winning the next game in relation to previous perfomances (15mks) 5. Estimate the velocity at which Manchester united is depreciating considering the new manager (6mks). 6. With the aid of a diagram, prove that Manchester united will go trophyless this season (10mks) 7.Without Using Table, list out the first 4 clubs in EPL (5mks) 8.Explain the sudden quietness of all Manchester United fan/supporters on all social network (5mks) 9.Using any known formula, prove why FRANK LAMPARD should not be sacked (10mks) paulczambia 🇿🇲
Beautifulboy
481
Maguire’s skills will be good for the female team. The male team is just to strong for him.[Crylaugh]
FootballChief
304
Not only authority. Maguire lacks personality and professionalism also
tipabopt
284
Leave Maguire alone Fred is not up to task Pogba is distracted Rashford is finished at 24 Leave the glory days of varane what has he done in United shirt? AWB is scam Lingard is Lingard Sancho just improving Everyone is not good for me Except Ronaldo at 37 Bruno Fernandes. Scott Mctomainay an De Gea. You think Maguire will not play good football with Van Digt behind Fabinho? Maguire will be a super star in city shirt. He is not doing well but everyone else is responsible. You’re destroying him with your media. When he was bought for that amount of money everyone wanted to pay for that an remember he is not responsible for his price tag. Stay strong HARRY MAGUIRE 🔥
Sahla_HDP
258
Carragher is right! Look, it's simple. In life, to become a leader, you have to earn the respect and you get respect by setting example. Setting the example will make the leaders & Bosses talk about you. People will see and have to give you credit for it. Even haters will realise and take the pill into the gut. How do you earn respect to become a leader? You perform better!!! You become consistent, so even your colleagues can't stop talking about you. By becoming a good defender, fellow players will start to trust you, therefore listen to you and little you know they will be following you. Maguire's performances as a Captain should be at least at the level of Cristiano Ronaldo (as a defender). Meanwhile Cristiano is scoring everything, Maguire has to defend everything. Look at my Chelsea, when Havertz is saving the team with decision goals, Thiago Silva is saving the team with his last breathtaking moments of pure defending. It's a share between eachother. Until Maguire don't realise he needs the team as much a the team needs him, he won't get to the next level!
Ai_Am_Ace
214
How can the worst performing player on the pitch any respect. How do you tell me to up my game when i am way better than you? I think the weight of the captaincy weighs so much on him, he should be stripped of it so he can focus on football and let someone who is actually performing yell at him when he misbehaves. Just imagine Maguire telling Bruno Fernandes that he is misplacing too many passes or to up his game or be more positionally disciplined or whatever? If i’m Bruno, I’m telling him bruh I’m trying to create goals for us while you are busy making us concede goals. Focus on you bro! And that is me being polite. And thinking about it now and putting myself in the team… Maguire’s captaincy is a cause for division on its own. I won’t respect the fact that the manager keeps him as captain even though he shouldn’t even be in the team much less lead it. So when Maguire cost us a match and the coach is telling me i misplaced passes, I’m going to be pissed lowkey because the manager’s decision to start him cost us so how can he come yelling at me that I’m doing something wrong when I’m actually trying to make things happen. And when it happens over and over again that discontent grows into unhappiness and even rebellion. Its no surprise the players keep leaking out information its wrong but they are grossly discontent. He is Ole’s captain and Ole is gone so what is he still doing as our captain. I don’t see how Maguire can talk to anyone on that team not even Rashford who is totally out of form
Amine_Ermac
74
Look at Marquinhos at PSG. He is not outspoken, intimidating, nor hyper aggressive. He is a simple a proper defender who is consistent and performs no matter what the circumstances. People would always respect such player even though Messi is in the team. Defenders would always make mistakes and have a bad game here and there. The problem is when those mistakes become the Norms and the circumstances of his captaincy in the first place. I think that’s what bothers most Man U fans. Every past Man U captains earned the armband, at least in my lifetime. We have become a joke. I wholeheartedly believe that this performances would be a lot more covered if his was not an Englishman.