Pressure of playing for Manchester United on 'totally different scale' from other clubs, says Harry Maguire ahead of new Premier League season
Published 11/08/2025 at 19:25 GMT+1
In a wide-ranging interview with Rio Ferdinand, Harry Maguire opened up on what the pressure of playing for Manchester United is really like, how that compares to representing his country, and the toughest moment of his career. The 32-year-old centre-back moved to Old Trafford in the summer of 2019 and has since made 246 appearances in all competitions for the club.
Man Utd should have culture 'at heart of decision-making'
Video credit: TNT Sports
Harry Maguire says the pressure of playing for Manchester United is on a "different scale" to what he feels when representing England.
The centre-back moved to Old Trafford from Leicester City in the summer of 2019 and has often been singled out for criticism.
Speaking to former Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand, Maguire was asked what the difference was between playing for club and country.
"I think there's more scrutiny on Manchester United just because more people in the country hate them, and that's just a fact," Maguire said.
"Everyone in the Premier League dislikes Man Utd and they don't want to see them do well. At England, everyone gets together."
He added: "We've had players who signed here from Chelsea - Juan [Mata], Nemanja [Matic], all of those boys.
"The size of the scrutiny and pressure [at Man Utd] they were speaking to me about... it's just a different league. It's a totally different scale."
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/08/05/image-62ed5ab9-3543-4cd1-9599-97bc61ee03e0-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
What is the key reason why Rashford can 'thrive' at Barcelona?
Video credit: TNT Sports
United are coming off the back of their worst campaign in the Premier League era in which they finished a lowly 15th with just 42 points.
They also missed out on the chance to salvage something from the season with a lacklustre loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the final of the UEFA Europa League.
However, despite not being the force they once were in Europe, United remain one of the biggest and most popular clubs in the world, and Maguire says that leads to extra scrutiny.
"The main thing you realise is the scrutiny and analysis on the matches. Every single thing gets analysed, you've got to be perfect in your work," continued Maguire.
"But then on the other hand, when things are going well, you get the praise and the privileges of playing for the best club in the world."
- Rodrygo on City radar, Prem duo in talks with Kalimuendo - Euro Transfer News
- Remarkable two-way tie for men's Ballon d'Or, Lionesses star set for glory - Readers' vote is in
Maguire reveals 'toughest moment'
Maguire became the most-expensive defender in the world when he left Leicester for United. And with such a tag, much was expected, and little leeway was afforded.
In the age of social media, where every moment, good or bad, can be recorded and posted online, Maguire has found some of the criticism he has faced difficult to deal with.
"My toughest moment? Well I had a bad six months, where everything I did was online and videos on me, misplaced passes, I think it got to a stage where anything posted was for clicks more or less," he said.
"I can take constructive criticism from players or ex-players but I think it got to a stage where it was all for clicks and follows and things like that.
"The toughest moment personally was probably when I got jeered at Scotland away playing for England. Coming on the pitch there, they probably thought it was a little bit of banter but it got to a stage then where I think people realised it had passed the mark of banter.
"That was the moment which really turned, and I had a lot of support and people reach out to me. I was really appreciative of that."
Maguire was stripped of the United captaincy at the end of the 2022/23 Premier League season by then manager Erik ten Hag and was heavily linked with a move away from Old Trafford after West Ham United had a bid accepted.
However, he fought to stay at the club and worked to regain his place in the team, something he managed during the following campaign.
So, what advice would he have for young players going through their own struggles?
"The main thing I always say is that you can only do what you can do," he said. "On a football pitch you get judged and when you play for this club everything gets analysed.
"Every goal that goes in the back of the net is someone's fault - it always gets pinpointed on somebody even though it could just be a good goal.
"I think you become used to it but for a young boy coming into it... when you're a young boy you have no fear and then once you make a couple of mistakes and after a couple of seasons people start expecting things from you, that's when the real test comes.
"I've seen a lot of players at Manchester United break through in one or two years and after the second year they start getting questioned and the form dips a little bit and I think it happens so much."
- - -
Stream the Premier League, Men’s and Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more on TNT Sports and discovery+Â
Related Topics
Thoughts?
Advertisement
Advertisement