Manchester United captain Harry Maguire is booed by his OWN FANS at every touch at the start of Melbourne’s friendly against Crystal Palace… just days after Erik ten Hag threw his support behind the under-fire centre-back
Harry Maguire was ruthlessly booed Manchester United fans every time he touched the ball at the start of Tuesday’s friendly crystal palace.
Maguire, who retained his captaincy after the boss’s arrival Eric ten Hagled the team to ridicule and the vitriol continued inside Melbourne Cricket Ground when he got his first touches.
The taunts were specifically aimed at Maguire and audible boos could be heard from a crowd made up mostly of Manchester United fans.
Harry Maguire was booed every time he touched the ball early in Tuesday’s friendly
It was a largely partisan Manchester United crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
He (left) was mocked as he led the team out after retaining Manchester United’s captaincy
Like many of his teammates, Maguire has had a torrid 2021-22 season and is in dire need of a fresh start.
The England international anchored a United defense that scored 57 Premier League goals last season, four more than Burnley, who were relegated.
That led to some fans calling for Maguire to be stripped of his captaincy.
But his competence as captain was in question quickly shaken off by Ten Hagwho gave him a confident voice as leader of the dressing room.
Maguire seemed to ignore the jeers at him as United made a strong start to the game
“Harry Maguire is the captain. He’s an established captain, he’s had a lot of achievements, so I don’t doubt that issue,” Ten Hag said.
The Dutch boss later added: “Harry is really impressive and I expect a lot from him. I always see the captaincy as an issue that I dictate.
“Team building is an important point for me and I always talk about a group of leaders. The captain is really important and I’m happy with him.”
Raphael Varane missed the friendly with Palace when Maguire started alongside Victor Lindelof in the center of defence.
Maguire will now face competition for his starting spot following the arrival of £55million Lisandro Martinez.
Erik ten Hag has backed the ‘impressive’ Maguire and continued him as team captain
Martinez may need time to adjust, but Ten Hag wasn’t in the mood when he recently sat down with reporters to give Maguire guarantees of starts.
“There is internal competition and that’s what a club like Man United needs,” he said.
“You can’t win with 11 players. We need a squad, especially in this season with so many games.
‘I find [Maguire] is (a first choice player). He has proved it in the past, but he must also prove it in the present and in the future. I will support him wherever I can. In the end he has to do it alone and he has the qualities to do it.”
