HARRY MAGUIRE says he can deal with all the stick he gets — and is on a mission to win back his Manchester United place.
The England defender was taunted by Scotland fans when he went on as a half-time sub in Tuesday’s 3-1 friendly win in Glasgow.
And it ramped up after his 67th-minute own goal.
But the ridicule is nothing new for the 59-cap veteran, who has seriously thick skin.
Maguire said: “We knew it would be hostile against the Scots and in the second half I got most of it. I am happy to go with that, don’t worry.
“They piled pressure on myself. I wouldn’t say I’m used to it but I can deal with it.
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“I would not say I am a person who struggles with pressure mentally.
“I have been through a lot in the last couple of years and I was Manchester United captain for nearly four years.
“It was a huge honour and you take a lot of responsibility and everything that comes with it — and that is a lot of bad as well as good.”
Asked about the endless baiting he is getting from opposing fans, Maguire smiled, and saw the positive side.
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He added: “Well, it pretty much takes the pressure away from my team-mates and puts it all on myself.
“It makes them play better, for sure. It is a little bit of banter and it is a hostile environment, coming away to Scotland.”
Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate branded criticism of Maguire as ‘ridiculous’ and a ‘joke’.
Yet he continues to be frozen out of the United team by Erik ten Hag and has made just one brief appearance as a sub, in the 3-1 loss at Arsenal.
The central defender, who lost the captain’s armband to Bruno Fernandes, was set to leave for West Ham in the summer but he ended up in a financial wrangle with United over his departure.
Asked why he ended up staying at Old Trafford, the 30-year-old said: “We just didn’t come to an agreement.
“They were happy for me to stay and I was happy to fight for my place.
“I would not say I am a person who struggles with pressure mentally.”
Harry Maguire
“I want to do that — and every time I train or play, I will give everything. I want to play games, I want to play football.
“The first four weeks were hard because it was one game a week and the manager didn’t select me. But we have lots of games coming up now and I am sure I will play lots of games.”
Maguire replaced Lisandro Martinez for the final 23 minutes of United’s trip to the Emirates on September 3 with the match level at 1-1.
Arsenal then claimed victory through goals from Declan Rice and Gabriel Jesus in injury-time.
Martinez, 25, limped off with a foot injury yet travelled to Argentina for international duty.
But the centre-back was not included in the squad for the World Cup winners against Ecuador or Bolivia, so his availability for Premier League clash at home to Brighton on Saturday is in the balance.
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Victor Lindelof was also replaced at Arsenal by deadline-day signing Jonny Evans after a bout of sickness but the Sweden defender led his country in both Euro 2024 qualifiers.
First-choice Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw, who has been used as a centre-back option by Ten Hag, are both still injured.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
