It has arguably been the toughest season of Harry Maguire’s career, but despite being a bit-part player under Erik ten Hag, the Manchester United captain has been commending his gaffer’s positive influence at the club.
When Ten Hag first rocked up at Old Trafford last summer, it’s safe to say he had an almighty uphill task to turn things around.
With Cristiano Ronaldo angling for a way out of the club, and off the back of a dismal campaign the season before, the Dutchman was under immediate pressure to deliver.
And yet, he has more than risen to the task so far, already taking United to a first cup final since 2017, while also solidifying third place in the Premier League.
A big reason for the remarkable turnaround, at least according to defender Maguire, is the cultural shift at the club that the new head coach has helped oversee.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup Final clash against Newcastle United, the England international was full of praise for Ten Hag’s influence this season.
Maguire told TalkSPORT: “His ideas are different to a lot of what we’ve been used to, I must say. He was a defender as well.
“This season, he has proven that it works and it has worked in the past as well.
“He has brought a philosophy and ideas on how he wants us to play. He’ll probably tell you that there is still a lot of improvement that we need to do.
“He’s so demanding in everything that he does and everything that he says.
“Whether it’s on the training pitch or whether you’re having a passing drill at the start and you miss a pass – he’s on you straight away and that’s the demands he sets. He wants high standards.”
While such high praise for the United manager isn’t surprising, the source of it might shock a few – as Maguire hasn’t exactly been a first-team regular so far this season.
Indeed, the 29-year-old has started just five games so far this season, with Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof generally preferred at the back by Ten Hag.
Nevertheless, as club captain Maguire will still be the man who lifts the Carabao Cup on Sunday if United seal the win, with the Centre-back having played in three of the side’s five games in the competition en route to the final.
Speaking about the possibility of lifting a trophy as captain, he added: “It’ll be an amazing moment for myself…It’s a huge honour for a captain of this football club. A real privilege.
“Ever since I’ve been made captain it’s been a dream to lift my first trophy for this football club.
“It’s been a long process but like I said we’ve got a long way to go and it’s a big game and I’m not going to be thinking too much about it until the moment comes.”
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