Harry Maguire tells Man Utd team-mates what has to change to get back to the top

Harry Maguire has been speaking about what it takes to play for Manchester United and has made a startling admission about the club’s lack of Premier League success

Harry Maguire reckons Manchester United have been too mentally weak to achieve success. The defender believes Ruben Amorim’s squad must embrace the pressures that come with representing United if the club hopes to reclaim its position at the summit of English football.

United haven’t lifted the title since 2013, or claimed the Champions League since 2008. Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Maguire identified the club’s biggest hurdle as conquering the psychological battles within players’ minds.

He explained: “I think it’s mental strength, definitely. I think it has a big part to play. You’ve got to thrive off the pressure, and you’ve got to play like you’re playing in a playground.

“And I think that’s what we’ve struggled to find over the last 10 years. There has been a transition period, obviously, when Sir Alex (Ferguson) was here and we had the best team by far. And won all the trophies.

“But the transition period is, at the moment, the reality is that we’re not the best team. And I think it’s how people and how the lads can adapt to that level of scrutiny and to keep going through that scrutiny.”, reports the Daily Star.

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Maguire suggests evidence of United’s difficulties can be seen in his own superior performances for England compared to his club displays. The centre-back attributes this disparity to the reality that every other Premier League side ‘despises’ United.

He added: “I think there’s more scrutiny on Manchester United, just because more people in the country hate them. And that’s just a fact. Everyone in the Premier League dislikes Manchester United, and they don’t want to see them do well.

“So I think there is more scrutiny on Manchester United, whereas England, everyone gets together. Everyone.”

United kick off their new Premier League season with last season’s runners-up Arsenal visiting Old Trafford. Amorim watched his side end pre-season with a 1-1 home draw against Fiorentina and pulled no punches when telling his players they must improve…and quickly.

“Today was a tough match,” he told MUTV. “It was important for us to take out the feeling of playing at Old Trafford. I think we had some difficulties, especially in the beginning of the first half, and in the beginning of the second half.

“They have a lot of mobility and we struggle to find the right moment to press. But then we controlled the game and I think we had a lack of fluidity in the game. We can do better.

“But I think it was a perfect game for preparation to show us we need to improve in different areas that we are going to struggle in some moments. But sometimes we have players who can make a play and elevate the stadium.”

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