Manchester United is a highly pressurised environment which not all players are able to handle. If you play 200 games for the club, then it’s a sign you have done something right.
Last night Harry Maguire made his 201st appearance, and his journey at Manchester United has not been smooth.
This season he has been playing without the captaincy, and it seems to have helped, removing some of the pressure and spotlight which has followed him around the past few seasons.
Maguire was even named Premier League player of the month for November, and has been a reliable player for the club with Lisandro Martinez suffering a variety of injury issues which have restricted him to only nine appearances.
Harry Maguire adds to the Manchester United team
Harry Maguire was back in the Manchester United starting line-up against Chelsea, withVictor Lindelof ruled out with a hamstring injury.
The England international centre-back was making his 18th Premier League appearance of the season, last season he made 16 in total.
Former United defender Wes Brown believes Maguire, 31, is still an important part of the squad, and says the team are better when he is involved.
Speaking to MUTV, he explained: “When Harry does play, there’s more balance there, anything in the box he clears.
“He is very important attacking, he gets his head on most things. Its about timing. He’s very good at it. Even if he doesn’t get a clean header, he gets something on it.”
Brown talked up the way Maguire has bounced back from criticism he has received in past campaigns, adding: “It’s a confidence thing, it’s how you overcome it, and he’s done that magnificently.”
Harry Maguire is now United’s most important player
Harry Maguire has just become Manchester United’s most important player, due to a succession of injuries at centre-back.
Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof are ruled out for a month. Luke Shaw is also a long-term absentee.
Last night Raphael Varane had to be substituted at half-time, and he was replaced by Jonny Evans. Unfortunately, Evans only lasted 20 minutes in the 4-3 loss.
This leaves Maguire as potentially the only fit senior centre-back heading into a crucial match with Liverpool.
United will be reliant on teenager Willy Kambwala, who could end up partnering Maguire in the FA Cup semi-final.
Perhaps Varane or Evans will be back by then. But one way or another, United really cannot afford for anything to happen to Maguire, that would be a total disaster.