HARRY MAGUIRE has come in for some harsh criticism following Manchester United’s Europa League heartbreak.
Yet the stats show the amazing impact the Red Devils skipper has had this season compared to his centre-back rivals.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were dumped out of the Europa League by Sevilla in a 2-1 defeat that exposed defensive mistakes.
Paul Scholes has already urged United to sign another defender to cover “Maguire’s weaknesses” while fans have also called for him to be replaced as captain.
But the stats show that it’d be unfair to lay the blame solely at the England star’s door.
The Red Devils were linked with a move for long-term target Kalidou Koulibaly earlier this summer to get the best out of Maguire.
Yet it could be the Three Lions ace tasked with improving the Senagalese after registering better overall league stats than his defensive counterpart.
The former Leicester star won over double the aerial duals than Koulibaly, while making more clearances and interceptions per match.
Despite playing more minutes than any other footballer in the world during an exhausting 2019-20 season, Maguire also didn’t make a single error leading to a Premier League goal.
The 27-year-old would be tasked with overseeing Gabriel Magalhaes at the back should United complete a £27m move for the Lille prospect.
The Brazilian made two errors leading to goals compared to none for Maguire despite playing almost half the games.
Gabriel also made fewer recoveries and interceptions but was slightly more successful with his tackles.
Virgil van Dijk meanwhile proved why he is considered the best around with the best stats across the board.
But even Liverpool’s colossal Dutchman allowed two sloppy mistakes to creep into his game albeit when the Reds had secured the title.
Simon Jordan says Harry Maguire is a ‘good central defender’, but is ‘gobsmacked he’s an £80m central defender’
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
