Harry Maguire admits Manchester United’s players must take their share of the blame for the ‘mess’ at Old Trafford this season because they did not adapt to Ruben Amorim when he replaced Erik ten Hag in November.
Maguire has been one of the success stories of a difficult season, hitting the headlines in recent weeks for his last-gasp winner in the 5-4 victory over Lyon in the quarter-finals of the Europa League before turning into a winger to set up Casemiro’s opener in the 3-0 semi-final win at Athletic Bilbao on Thursday night.
But the England defender believes the players must be held responsible for some of the problems at United after Amorim admitted that evening winning the Europa League could not save the club’s season.
‘It wouldn’t save the season because I think it’s been disappointing,’ said Maguire.
‘There’s been too many games that we’ve lost, far too inconsistent. It’s been a bit of a mess in the middle of the season, the transition period we didn’t handle it well enough us players.
‘We didn’t take the responsibility well enough from moving manager to manager and we took too long in embedding into new ideas.
Harry Maguire said players must shoulder blame for the ‘mess’ at Old Trafford this season
Maguire has been one of the success stories of a difficult season and he turned into a winger to set up Casemiro’s opener in the 3-0 semi-final win at Athletic Bilbao on Thursday night
United took a massive step to the Europa League final with their emphatic 3-0 win last night
‘It’s been a difficult season but of course football is about memories, it’s about creating memories, it’s about winning trophies and we have a great opportunity to win a trophy. For our fans, what they deserve, so that’s the most important thing.
‘I wouldn’t say it’s my best season at the club if I’m being honest.
‘The first two seasons coming into a team that finished seventh and eight the year before then, the first season I was here. I think we kept the most clean sheets in Europe, finished third the second season.
‘Again, I think we were second most in Europe, finished second. So I think that’s my two best seasons at the club, form-wise. Although, I must say, the big moments this year for sure have been a lot better than previous seasons.’
