WE’LL PUT IT RIGHT
Maguire fired up for Gunners
HARRY MAGUIRE has issued a rallying cry to Manchester United in a bid to rescue their title bid.
United’s hopes of becoming champions for the first time since 2013 suffered a hammer blow with their shock 2-1 home defeat by rock-bottom Sheffield United on Wednesday night.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were left stunned after seeing their 13-game unbeaten run in the league brought to a shuddering halt, with the Blades claiming only a second win of the season and first at Old Trafford since 1973.
The loss means neighbours Manchester City are now one point clear at the top of the table with a game in hand – and are now firm favourites to go on to claim their third title in four seasons.
Solskjaer insists there will be no inquest into what went wrong ahead of tomorrow’s crunch showdown at old rivals Arsenal.
But the United manager should be questioning his team selection and the attitude of those he did pick, following one of the most humiliating results since he took charge just over two years ago. Bruno Fernandes is starting to look jaded, while Paul Pogba went missing once again as United lacked the zip and urgency which had taken them to the top of the table.
The result was a serious wake-up call to Solskjaer, who warned his players several weeks ago not to get too big for their boots otherwise they would probably end up falling flat on their faces.
Now they have done, to prove that United are not as good as they think they are.
Skipper Maguire has urged his side to bounce back with a win at the Emirates to show their title credentials. He said: “When you do get a defeat, there’s nothing worse than waiting to get back out on the pitch to play and try and put things right.
“The boys are devastated, if I’m honest. It was a really quiet dressing room. We didn’t expect it, because we came into the game confident.
“We’ve got to pick ourselves up. We are disappointed and it hurts, but Saturday is a big game. It’s all good and easy when you’re winning football matches and you’re playing well – but now it’s time to stand up and be counted. When you get kicked down, it’s how quickly you bounce back.”
WEST HAM will pay £1.5m to take United forward Jesse Lingard, 28, on loan until the end of the season. The Hammers will cover Lingard’s £100,000-a-week wages.
We are so devastated, it hurts