Harry Maguire says Manchester United have 'mental' issue but backs Erik ten Hag after Porto draw in UEFA Europa League
Updated 03/10/2024 at 23:56 GMT+1
Manchester United went 2-0 up early on against Porto in the UEFA Europa League, but the hosts then took a 3-2 lead before Harry Maguire rescued a point for United in injury time. After conceding two goals in quick succession to surrender their two-goal advantage, Maguire said it is a "mental issue" which needs addressing. He also backed under-pressure manager Erik ten Hag.
'A mental issue' - Maguire laments United's lack of 'belief' and backs Ten Hag
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Harry Maguire says Manchester United have “mental” issues to address after throwing away a 2-0 lead against Porto in the UEFA Europa League but has backed manager Erik ten Hag to come through the latest uncertainty surrounding his future.
England defender Maguire scored an injury-time equaliser to rescue a 3-3 draw in Portugal, but after being in control of the match after 20 minutes, more questions are being asked of their defensive frailties.
Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund struck early in the Estadio do Dragao to give Ten Hag’s team the perfect start.
However, two goals in seven minutes levelled things for Porto before half-time, before Samu Omorodion grabbed his second of the night to put the hosts 3-2 up, and seemingly heading for victory, until Maguire’s towering header salvaged a point for United.
Coming off the back of a 3-0 Premier League defeat to Tottenham and an uninspiring 1-1 draw to open their European campaign against Twente, United were hoping for a big performance.
But it was familiar failings that let them down, with defensive problems from last season showing themselves once more.
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They conceded two goals in four minutes in two European fixtures last season – against Bayern Munich and Copenhagen – while they also shipped twice in nine minutes against Galatasaray.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Maguire said it is a clear area of weakness for the team which urgently needs addressing.
“When you get 2-0 away from home in a place like this, you’ve got to be a little bit more solid and a little bit more secure. There were far too many gaps, too many crosses coming into the box for sure.
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“It’s more probably of a mental issue, it’s something we’ve got to overcome. It starts with belief. When we go 2-0 up then concede, does the belief go a little bit between the boys that we can go on and win the game? It’s something that we need to be aware of, something that we need to focus on," Maguire said.
“The boys on the pitch have obviously got together, they’ve got to realise that it’s happened far too many times. They’ve got to realise that every time we concede it’s something that we need to reset and refocus and go back to the game plan that got us the lead in the first place.
“If we want to be successful this season, we can’t be conceding two goals in as many minutes as we have done this season."
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A difficult start to the season has seen Ten Hag come under fire again – with his future at Old Trafford being questioned once more.
Former England and Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole thinks it will be a “surprise” if the Dutchman is still in charge at Christmas.
But Maguire defended his manager and backed him to handle the pressure.
“I’ve played for this club now for six years so I know how it works and when you go through a bad spell players come under pressure but also the manager does," he said.
“He’s experienced enough, he’s been in the game long enough, he’s been at this club long enough that he’s probably learnt how to deal with it. It’s part and parcel of playing for this club or managing this club. It’s part of the privilege that you have."
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