Harry Maguire lifts lid on Man Utd’s ‘disappointing’ season as he faces race against time to play in FA Cup final
HARRY MAGUIRE believes Manchester United should have done better this season despite their nightmare run of injuries.
Under-pressure boss Erik ten Hag has been forced to contend with more than 60 cases of injury or illness throughout a torrid campaign that saw the Red Devils limp home in eighth — their lowest-ever Prem finish.
And England defender Maguire is in a race against time to be fit for Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester City after missing the end of the season with a calf problem.
At various stages this season, Maguire’s fellow defenders Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Jonny Evans, Willy Kambwala, Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Victor Lindelof have all been on the sidelines, while Tyrell Malacia has not featured at all.
Midfielder Mason Mount has struggled with his fitness since joining from Chelsea for £55million in July, while there have been injuries to Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Scott McTominay, Christian Eriksen, Sofyan Amrabat, Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Hojlund, Amad Diallo, Antony and Anthony Martial.
Even so, Maguire admits missing out on the European spots was a huge disappointment after last season’s third-place finish.
And the centre-back hopes to end the season on a high by lifting the FA Cup — which would also see the club qualify for the Europa League.
Maguire, 31, said: “It has been a really disappointing season from where we were a year ago. Everyone will admit that.
“Obviously, we have had a ridiculous number of injuries, a freak number.
“We have not dealt with it well enough. We should have managed more points than what we did.
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“We have not performed well enough and our performances should have been better.
“Obviously, Europe is something we need to push towards.
“It would be a great achievement to win the Cup against a team who are playing really well.”
Accepting United are under a huge amount of pressure, Maguire added: “It is what happens when you play for this club.
“If you don’t get good results, players get scrutinised, layers get linked with a move away.
“They get sold, put on the transfer list and the manager will come under pressure.
“I have been here five years now so I know what happens.
“The manager is experienced enough to know it is part and parcel of being at this club. I am sure he can deal with that.
“As a team, this season has been a lot tougher than last year.
But it is a long old career and you will always have ups and downs. It is the way you react to the downs which pushes you.”
Maguire moved to Old Trafford from Leicester in the summer of 2019 for £85million.
And he is hoping to be fit for Saturday’s Wembley final, even though he is only likely to make the bench after missing United’s last four games.
This is a Cup final for Manchester United. I want to be involved. I want to be available to play. The Euros have not crossed my mind.
Harry Maguire
Despite being included in Gareth Southgate’s 33-man training squad for the Euros, Maguire is only thinking of United.
He added: “The Euros is not a priority. I am not looking to save myself for the Euros.
“This is a Cup final for Manchester United. I want to be involved. I want to be available to play. The Euros have not crossed my mind.
“I am doing everything I can to be involved again. Even if I only return to training the day before the game, I want to be involved.
“It was frustrating to pick up the calf injury in training and I would have liked to finish the season in the Premier League.
“For the Cup final, I am touch and go. Fingers crossed.”
Saturday’s Cup final is a repeat of last season’s all-Manchester showdown as City chase back-to-back Doubles.
Ilkay Gundogan scored inside 13 seconds for the quickest-ever goal in a final, before his second-half winner saw City beat the Red Devils 2-1 on their way to emulating their historic Treble.
Maguire, an ambassador for WOW Hydrate, said: “It was a painful day.
“We got the Carabao Cup and were full of confidence going into the game.
“We played well but to concede so early against the team going for the Treble was really bad.
“We know we cannot do that again on Saturday.
“If you give a team like City a head start in a Cup final, then you are giving yourself a really tough task.
“It is hard enough to beat them on a level playing field.
“We did not have too many chances but we had a few to turn half-chances into good chances but it was not to be.
“So we are now looking forward to another big occasion.”
Maguire has also backed Mount to be a success, despite making just 19 appearances for United this season.
The defender said: “Mason wanted to come and make a big impression but he has been really unlucky with injuries since arriving.
“We can see in training he will be a big player for this club. Every player and member of staff knows that.
“I am sure he is so frustrated he has not had the opportunity to show that to United’s fans. He will have many years at this club, though.”
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