Solskjaer admits it was ‘risk’ to start Maguire
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer conceded it was a risk to play Harry Maguire for the first time in three weeks after United were humbled 4-2 by Leicester.
Maguire was notably culpable for three of Leicester’s goals as he was robbed of possession for Youri Tielemans’s equaliser and failed to mark Jamie Vardy for the eventual winner before Patson Daka lost Maguire from a corner to round off the scoring.
United had been without Maguire in their two previous games due to a calf injury and Raphael Varane is out for three weeks with a groin strain.
Maguire, on his first visit back at Leicester with a crowd present, was booed and chided by the home supporters and seemed unnerved.
“It was my decision to play Harry,” Solskjaer said. “He’s worked really hard on the rehab with the physios and he looked ready, he didn’t feel any aftereffects, he trained with us, he looked sharp.
“He’s a big, massive player for us, he’s so important. He’s the captain, he’s the leader, we want to bring him back as soon as we can because he’s been so influential in our play.
“Maybe he needed that firsthalf to get going but I thought he got better and better throughout the game, more comfortable on the ball, the game was ebbing and flowing.
“I’ve got to say when you concede two goals from set-plays, one goal ten seconds after you’ve scored, the focus and concentration, I’m not pointing fingers at any specific player – we all need to do better, have to do better.”
United have now won just four of their eight Premier League fixtures and already lost two ahead of upcoming games against Liverpool, Tottenham and City.