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One is happy to be proven wrong in this industry and Harry Maguire has proven me wrong.
The Emirates Stadium has bookended Maguire’s recovery at Manchester United. At the same ground last year, Maguire came on to cheers – by Arsenal fans. A transfer to West Ham United had recently fallen through and Maguire was a figure of fun.
Sixteen months later, 7,956 United fans stood and applauded him heartily. The majority will not have known Maguire only came off in the 104th minute as he had missed two training sessions through illness in the week.
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“He was in bed but wanted to play,” a source said. It has not gone unnoticed that other United players have been unwell and not played in recent times.
Maguire has produced three of the finest performances of his United career within a month against Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City. All away from home.
During his mixed zone stop-off with colleagues on Sunday, Maguire touched upon his form under Ralf Rangnick three years ago. Around the same time, Joe Root relinquished the England captaincy after galling series defeats in Australia and the West Indies.
This correspondent wrote back then that his fellow Yorkshireman, Maguire, should do likewise. Maguire, understandably loath to step down as United’s leader, was eventually stripped of the armband.
Before the 2023 League Cup final, Maguire and Bruno Fernandes entered the Jimmy Murphy Centre at Carrington to conduct some media activity. Fernandes, the de facto captain, shook hands with the three of us waiting downstairs. Maguire, perhaps understandably, kept his distance and offered a cursory “hello”.
I have since spoken to Maguire in a mixed zone and interviewed him in Los Angeles in the summer. He talks a good game. Maguire is more authentic and authoritative now he is no longer at the front of the queue in the Stretford End tunnel.
Maguire wore the armband against Everton
He is no longer obliged to speak to the rights holders post-match. The regularity with which Maguire had to address broadcasters after humiliating defeats under Rangnick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tended to grind with United fans and possibly ground Maguire down.
Some former teammates did not conceal their antipathy towards Maguire. Eric Bailly questioned his privileges with Maguire present and Cristiano Ronaldo lobbied Rangnick to strip him of the captaincy.
Without that responsibility, Maguire is no longer the first in the firing line. Fernandes is in the crosshairs and had his leadership questioned as recently as Boxing Day. That has done Maguire a favour.
Ruben Amorim’s man-management has buoyed the 31-year-old. Amorim publicly billed Maguire as “perfect” for a back three and privately told him it was a “no-brainer” to extend his contract. For the first time since he lost the armband, Maguire strapped it back on during the home games with Everton and Newcastle last month.
Under Erik ten Hag, there was an ABM policy as far as the captaincy was concerned – anyone but Maguire. Toby Collyer skippered United during pre-season.
Maguire is applauded off by United fans -Credit:Julian Finney/Getty Images.
Maguire’s leadership credentials have been more visible since last term. He reacted impeccably to the farcical defeat of Coventry City in the FA Cup semi-final penalty shootout, immediately striding towards their players in the centre circle and shaking hands. Antony, never a United player, goaded them.
The ‘Maguiressance’ started with the near-end of Ten Hag. Maguire’s Herculean header assisted Scott McTominay’s 97th-minute winner against Brentford, a game where United were minutes away from a fifth Premier League defeat in eight. Ten Hag was almost literally on his knees on the touchline.
Maguire’s truculence in the wake of Kai Havertz’s dive galvanised United. Manuel Ugarte softened up Havertz, not the most courageous, and the German then missed Arsenal’s best chance before he lost his nerve in the penalty shootout.
Hardly any United players have recovered from a near-sale to enjoy their best times at the club. The most famous is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, seemingly bound for Tottenham after United accepted a £5million offer in the summer of 1998. Solskjaer wanted to stay, scored the club’s most famous goal and was immortalised with a banner declaring him a legend.
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Solskjaer was responsible for signing Maguire and his premature promotion to captain in January 2020. No player had been assigned that status so quickly after signing for the club since Maurice Setters in 1960.
It was admittedly enforced by Ashley Young’s unexpected mid-season transfer to Inter Milan. Solskjaer regarded Maguire as a probable future captain when United paid Leicester £80m, still a world record fee for a defender.
“I’m 31 now, coming up to 32 in a couple of months, but I’m getting back to that level,” Maguire said. “I also think I was at that level last season as well, so it’s been 18 months now where I’d say I’ve been playing consistently well for this club again.
“There’s no doubt I had a tough year in my third season when Ralf [Rangnick] took over, I wasn’t at my best, I knew that, I knew I needed to find something to stay at this club because it demands high standards and I feel like I’ve found something. Mentally and physically I feel good.”
Root’s Test average shot up by 20 runs in his first year post-captaincy. Maguire contributed to an FA Cup final victory he would have started in but for injury and United are strong contenders to retain it.
One is happy to be proven wrong.