Former Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has voiced his concerns about the treatment of Manchester United’s defender Harry Maguire and the impact of certain events on the defender’s recent performance woes.
While Carragher agrees that Maguire should be temporarily dropped from the England squad to relieve the pressure, he also points out other contributing factors to Maguire’s decline, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Andre Onana, and internal issues at Manchester United, News About Nigeria gathered.
Carragher acknowledges his respect for Maguire and condemns the undue harassment he is facing. He argues that Maguire’s confidence has been shattered, and he is unfairly belittled by both fans and players.
One of the incidents Carragher highlights is the jeering Maguire faced from Manchester United fans during pre-season games in 2022 and 2023.
He also points to a particularly distasteful incident during a friendly match against Borussia Dortmund in July, where new signing Andre Onana appeared to taunt Maguire to gain favour with the fans. Carragher believes this moment was indicative of Maguire’s deteriorating standing within the team.
Carragher emphasizes that Maguire, as the club captain at the time, should have responded assertively to Onana’s behaviour to demand respect and preserve his authority. However, he suggests that Maguire’s lack of reaction proved a severe blow to his confidence.
Furthermore, Carragher connects Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United with reports of power struggles within the team, suggesting that the then environment contributed to undermining Maguire’s position.
In Carragher’s view, for Harry Maguire’s well-being and career, it is essential that he takes a break from international duty with England until he regains his form and confidence. He believes that the current situation is unsustainable both personally and professionally for the player.
