Harry Maguire vowed to keep fighting as the Manchester United captain looks to translate Erik ten Hag’s trust into a starting spot having watched much of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final win from the bench.
Manchester United captain Harry Maguire says he has the backing of Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, but admits he “wants to play games.”
Maguire has made just nine starts this season and was only introduced for the final two minutes of Sunday’s 2-0 Carabao Cup final win over Newcastle.
After injury denied him the chance to skipper the team in the 2021 Europa League final penalty shoot-out defeat to Villarreal, Bruno Fernandes again captained the side in his stead.
Maguire’s absence in the starting XI was down to selection reasons as Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez’s outstanding partnership has seen the skipper fall down the centre-back pecking order under Ten Hag.
It didnt come as a surprise to see the 29-year-old named among the substitutes against Newcastle, with the defender brought on two minutes from time to see out a 2-0 win and lift the cup with Fernandes.
“Of course (I was happy to get on the pitch),” Maguire said. “I am a footballer who wants to play games. I also want to contribute to the team.
“I am the club captain and I know I have a big responsibility on and off the pitch, so it was nice to get on the pitch and help the lads out. It was an important win for us.”
Maguire turned down the chance to join West Ham United in January, but there is likely to be more interest in the summer if his prospects do not improve.
“I think he [Ten Hag] has been asked numerous times about my role in interviews and he tells me honestly, he believes in me, but this is football,” Maguire said. “This is Manchester United. We want to win trophies, and big trophies and to do that you need competition for places.
“The manager speaks to me daily and he really respects me and believes that I am a top centre-half with all the attributes to play in his team, but also he understands that the players who are playing — and I understand that the players who are playing — are playing very well.”
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