Manchester United are still reeling from a dramatic 2024/25 which saw the club battle a severe injury crisis, and still come out with a trophy at the end of it.
Manchester United fans would have taken the outcome of winning the 2024 FA Cup at the start of the season, and so would the players, after the pain of the 2023 final defeat.
But at what cost? The cup win was offset by a woeful Premier League campaign, a worst ever eighth placed finish, Champions League group stage exit, and a limp defence of the Carabao Cup.
In short, it was a painful journey to get to the end of the season, and not every player made it to the big finale at Wembley. One player in particular has paid a heavy price.
Harry Maguire out of the Euro 2024 squad
Central defence was one of the areas Manchester United’s injury issues hit hard last season, and at one stage Harry Maguire was the only fit centre-back, with Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof, Lisandro Martinez, Jonny Evans, and Willy Kambwala all injured, along with Luke Shaw.
Maguire eventually succumbed to injury himself, missing the end of the season including the FA Cup Final.
It was a cruel blow after he failed to start the previous two cup finals in 2023 due to not being selected, and also missed the 2021 Europa League Final due to injury.
Now, further bad news, Maguire has been left out of England’s Euro 2024 squad, news which has left United fans upset for him, and the defender admitting he is devastated.
After losing in the Euro 2020 final, Maguire had hoped to go one better this tournament. Now he will have to watch on from home, like Marcus Rashford, left out due to form.
Harry Maguire played through the pain
Harry Maguire’s misfortune feels so unlucky partly because he had been so good this season, taking a big leap forward in performance levels, answering his critics, even winning a Premier League player of the month award.
While a year ago, there were questions about his automatic role in the England team, this year it really felt like he had earned it, and the Three Lions will be weaker without him.
It hurts even more so, because Maguire put his body on the line and played through the pain to help United get through the injury crisis.
This was laid bare at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City, a game in which Maguire scored, before continuing to play all 120 minutes – later revealed to be battling an injury.
Teammate Casemiro told TNT Sports at the time: “We have six defenders [out]. H [Harry Maguire] was injured.
“He played injured this game. Since the beginning [of the game], he was injured. He played injured in the last match.”
The previous match referred to was the away game against Bournemouth, when Erik ten Hag admitted Maguire suffered an early injury he had to battle past.
Ten Hag told club media: “One thing was Harry Maguire had an issue in the first half and for us he overcame [it]”.
That turned out to be two matches in eight days Maguire played through while injured. Soon afterwards, Maguire suffered the injury which ended his season.
Maguire, 31, is coming towards the end of his journey with England. He may have one more World Cup left in him, if everything breaks right.
Missing out on this tournament, and the FA Cup Final, comes as a bitter blow during what had shaped up as a redemption season, the one solitary crumb of comfort being that his reputation has been enhanced.
Maguire ends 2023/24 as a player who has given absolutely everything, and paid the price.
He helped Manchester United get to Wembley for the final, to be in a position to claim victory over City without him, and his efforts have been appreciated.