Harry Maguire reportedly blames Man Utd teammate for defensive struggles in 21/22

Harry Maguire reportedly thinks David de Gea was partially at fault for his and Manchester United’s defensive struggles in the 2021/22 season.

United’s defence struggled badly throughout last campaign.

They conceded 57 goals in the Premier League. Only six sides conceded more goals than them over the course of the season.

Maguire was widely criticised for his performances.

He featured 30 times over the course of the Premier League season and made numerous mistakes.

Despite Maguire’s poor form, both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick retained their faith in United’s captain.

Maguire ‘frustrated’ with David de Gea’s performances in 2021/22

ESPN journalist Mark Ogden has recently published a report that has detailed Maguire’s struggles over the past year.

And the 29-year-old reportedly thinks that his performances were not helped by De Gea.

It is claimed that Maguire was frustrated with De Gea’s communication and reluctance to defend further away from his goal-line.

He believes these factors contributed to his and United’s struggles in defence as a whole.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – APRIL 02: Harry Maguire of Manchester United in discussions with David De Gea during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford on April 02, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

A source close to the England centre-back has also blamed United’s coaches and players for not helping him.

The sources also claimed that if Maguire and Ruben Dias, one of the Premier League’s best centre-backs, swapped teams, Maguire would thrive whereas Dias would struggle.

“Harry needs pace around him, but he hasn’t had that,” a source close to Maguire said.

“If you put [Man City’s] Ruben Dias in the United defence and Harry in the City back-four, Dias would struggle and Harry would thrive.

“Harry hasn’t had a good 12 months, but he hasn’t been helped by those around him — coaches or players — so it’s inevitable that his confidence and form have suffered.”

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 20: Harry Maguire of Manchester United, Victor Lindelöf of Manchester United and David De Gea of Manchester United chat during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford on October 20, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Maguire has now lost his place in the side after Lisandro Martinez was purchased in the summer.

He started United’s first two Premier League games of the season, where they lost both matches and conceded six goals.

He was dropped after the 4-0 defeat to Brentford and has played just 10 minutes in their last four league games.

United’s defence is now functioning much better with De Gea in goal and the partnership of Martinez and Raphael Varane in front of him.

Maguire now has a very tough task of re-establishing himself in United’s first team.

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