Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has been branded a “natural leader” for the Red Devils and will “come back to his very best,” according to Gary Pallister.
The 29-year-old England centre-back arrived at Old Trafford with high expectations on his shoulders after United paid a world-record fee for a defender in 2019.
Maguire, who cost a staggering £80m from Leicester City, ascended to the United captaincy within six months of him signing for the Red Devils.
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Former United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer handed the ex-Leicester star the captain’s armband after the departure of Ashley Young to Inter Milan in January 2020.
Maguire has come under scathing criticism over his form and disappointing performances for United this season.
The United defender has faced growing calls to be stripped of the club captaincy, with recent reports alleging a ‘power struggle’ in the Red Devils dressing room.
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Pallister has staunchly defended Maguire in his position as United captain, despite admitting that the England international is “not in the best of form.”
However, the 56-year-old United legend has backed Maguire to return to his “very best” and establish a central partnership with Raphael Varane in the future.
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Speaking to BoyleSports, Pallister said: “There’s no getting away from the fact he’s not in the best of form. I thought he had a decent game against Tottenham.
“The own goal came at a bad time but that happens to the very best, that’s just a fluke.
“People say he hasn’t done this or that, but I think he’s been the natural leader for United over the last few seasons.
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“I think he’s been pretty good in a United shirt up until this season. I think he’ll come back to his very best and, in the future, I think he and [Raphael] Varane will be the partnership at the back.
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“There’s factors to why he’s had a dip in form but, ultimately, Harry has been pretty good and he’s the only one who seems to be the natural leader in the dressing room.
“That seems to be a big problem for United. I played with four, five captains in the teams I played in and I don’t see too many natural leaders with that character and when things are tough in games, those characters can lead you through moments in matches and right now we haven’t got them kind of leaders on the pitch.”
Topics: Harry Maguire, Manchester United, Premier League, England, Football
Adnan Riaz