HARRY MAGUIRE opened up on his desperate battle to make the Europa League final in Poland.
Manchester United’s skipper is still sidelined with an ankle ligament injury after Aston Villa’s Anwar El Ghazi fell on him during a 3-1 away win 11 days ago.
He has been on crutches and wearing a protective boot, with the biggest game of his club career fast approaching on Wednesday when Man Utd take on Villarreal in Gdansk.
Looking back on the incident, Maguire said: “Basically, he just fell on me and put all his weight on me — and I ended up twisting my ankle.
“It wasn’t a muscle injury, so it was a bit unfortunate and very frustrating.
“I was very disappointed on the night and the day after, but I’ve come to terms with it. I’ve got to be positive.
“I’ve got to look forward and make sure when I’m ready to come back that I’m fully fit, raring to go and can pick up where I left off.”
The odds are stacked against Maguire making the Euro showpiece.
It would be heartbreaking for the captain, who has dreamt of lifting his first trophy as a player ever since the semi-final victory over Roma.
He said: “I play to be involved in the biggest competitions and win trophies. To lift the trophy in Gdansk would mean the world to me — I’d be so proud.”
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Despite drawing 1-1 at home to relegated Fulham on Tuesday night, United confirmed runners-up spot in the league courtesy of Leicester’s defeat to Chelsea.
That and a European final to look forward to shows the strides Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have taken from last season, when they were third and lost three semis.
But Maguire insists that they still need to aim higher.
The England defender, 28, said: “We didn’t set out this season to finish second, we want to win the Premier League. That’s what we demand at this club.
“However, sometimes you’ve got to be realistic to where you were the season before — and the improvement we’ve made throughout this season is really important.
“The improvement we’ve made as individuals, as a team, in the principles that we play from and the amount of goals that we’ve scored, the clean sheets we’ve kept . . . I think you can see the difference.
“We’re a lot better side than we were. But, for sure, we still need to improve in every department — attack, defence.
“It’s about winning the biggest trophies in the world when you’re at this club. Until we’re doing that, we haven’t reached our heights yet.”
Maguire was sat in the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand as 10,000 fans returned to Old Trafford on Tuesday.
It was the first time they had played in front of supporters since March of last year — and Maguire says it is going to make a big difference to their home form next season.
United have won fewer than 50 per cent of their home league games this season — nine victories against four draws and six defeats.
Maguire said: “There have been games where we’ve needed them.
“We’ve done our best over a period, but fans make football and the atmosphere they create, you can’t create it yourself.
“The energy a full Old Trafford gives the boys, and the intimidation that they give the opposition team, is going to make a difference, for sure.
“You still feel at home when you play at Old Trafford — but it is not the same at all.
“The fans can definitely help swing the momentum in games.
“It only takes a corner, a set-play, and the fans get right behind you and the momentum swings.”
For now, Maguire is desperate to swing the injury odds in his favour.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
