Villa boss has Bees in bonnet
TALK... UNITED ARE STILL WORLD CLASS
HARRY MAGUIRE has admitted that Manchester United are letting their fans down.
The United captain issued a passionate rallying call ahead of the FA Cup clash with Aston Villa tomorrow night by telling his team-mates they MUST carry the can for the mess at Old Trafford.
Maguire revealed that he has held crisis talks with interim boss Ralf Rangnick – and his underperforming team-mates.
He is adamant that the buck stops with the players that the German inherited from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in late November.
Maguire said: “The most important thing for us is the fans. We are letting them down.
“The support at Old Trafford and at away games is still unbelievable.
“United have a history of coming out fighting – and that’s exactly what we will do. We have to!
“This team finished second in the Premier League last year – and we now have a bigger and better squad, so we have to show the right attitude. We’ve got big players in the team – leaders.
“I’m sick of repeating myself, but it can’t continue like this.
“We need to go on a proper run, starting against Villa. I’m the captain and leader in the dressing room.
“I have had private conversations with the players and with the management – and they will remain private.
“But make no mistake about it, I’m here for the fight – and I know my team-mates are.
“I expect them to be and if they’re not, then there’s something wrong.”
Maguire accepts that the vitriol that has rained down on the players in the aftermath of a home defeat against Wolves, leaving United in seventh place in the Premier League, is justified.
He said: “I’ve seen a lot of criticism and a lot of it is absolutely correct.
“But this team shouldn’t need criticism to motivate the players. If players of this quality aren’t motivated to play for this club when they pull on the shirt, there’s something wrong.
“What the fans and the ex-players have said, we get it. A lot of it is justified and we all have to take massive responsibility.
“We are all angry. We want to do our best. The team spirit is good, despite what people say.
“Being a professional footballer, you have to take criticism on the chin and react well to it.
“We know that if we can put together a run of results then everything else takes care of itself.”
Maguire believes the spirit of Sir Alex Ferguson can drag United out of their current malaise. Ferguson was a master at bringing a siege mentality to the dressing room.
The England centre-half said: “Sometimes it can be good to have the ‘us against the world’ mentality.
“I know a lot was written about Sir
Alex’s teams and the way he used to spur his players on.
“We’ve got to get our heads down and do better, no matter what is thrown our way because other clubs have the same problems as us.”
Maguire accepts the pressure is on him as captain to help lift the gloom.
He added: “I came here to win titles. I could have signed elsewhere, but I wanted to be at United and help them get back to the winning ways of the Sir Alex era. It will come if we stick together.”
Maguire recalled how he grew up idolising United stars such as Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, and insisted: “I want to repeat what they achieved.
“I am privileged to be captain and I’ve got a responsibility to lead the players and turn things around.”
United last won the FA Cup in 2016 when Rooney lifted the trophy (left).
“There’s not been enough silverware in recent years,” said Maguire. “We’ve got the players to do it. Absolutely.
“We’ve been in so many semis and the Europa final last year. We just need to get one trophy and kick on again.”
STEVEN GERRARD is making no apologies for demanding the best regardless of any flak from outside Villa Park.
Aston Villa’s manager was the subject of raised eyebrows on Match of the Day 2 last week when he voiced his unhappiness at his side’s defending in a
2-1 defeat at Brentford.
Pundit Jermaine Jenas suggested that Gerrard was over the top in his comments – arguing that the Bees needed praise for their work leading up to both goals instead.
But Gerrard insisted that while he respected other opinions, he didn’t see things that way at all.
Gerrard said: “I totally appreciate that on Match of the Day people have to analyse and have their own opinions. That’s fine.
“Constructive criticism is part and parcel of the game.
“But what I expect from my team – and from what we have seen previously – we were disappointed.
“That’s for us to address and learn from.
“And it’s my job to challenge, provoke and give my honest assessment on what I saw out there – and that’s what I did after the match.
“If we had defended those situations better, we’d be sitting here with at least one more point on the board. We’re not.
“I want the environment at Aston Villa to be elite. I want it to be a learning environment as well.
“We’ve held a debrief – and the players themselves have given us answers as to the reasons why we conceded the goals that we did.
“I will not stop calling it as I see it.”