Maguire hits back at critics of poor Man Utd leadership

Harry Maguire claims it is the “best leadership group” he has been involved in after he and Man Utd faced criticism earlier in the season over a lack of leaders in the squad.

Rio Ferdinand said back in November that he was concerned about the Red Devils’ lack of leadership, while Paul Scholes criticised Maguire after a “worrying” post-match interview in December.

Two months on and everything feels rosy at Man Utd with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League and into the fifth round of the FA Cup.

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Maguire told United’s official podcast: “I think it’s something that did get brought up in the media, about leadership at this club – but for sure, it’s the best leadership group I’ve been involved in at a club.

“We have a lot of leaders in the dressing room, a lot of senior pros.

“And you don’t have to be a senior pro to be a leader. Axel [Tuanzebe] is a leader, in the ways that he works and speaks in the dressing room. And he’s only a young boy, he’s still learning his trade – I’m sure he’ll go on to have an unbelievable career.

“I think we have a lot of leaders. There’s Bruno, who has come in and made a massive impact at the club, results-wise but also off the field. His mentality – it rubs off on other people when you have a strong mentality, a winning mentality.

“Nemanja [Matic], Juan [Mata], David [De Gea] – they’ve been at the club a while now. There’s definitely a lot of leaders in the dressing room.”