Maguire: Manchester United Can’t Afford to Concede So Many Goals Anymore; Ten Hag Knows How to Handle Pressure

In the early morning of October 4, in the second round of the Europa League group stage for the 2024/25 season, Manchester United drew 3-3 with Porto away from home. In the dying minutes of the match, Harry Maguire’s crucial goal helped Manchester United avoid a defeat.

After the game, Harry Maguire, who scored for Manchester United, said in an interview: “After every game, we have a debrief and discussion. The head coach, some of the staff, and players all shared their thoughts. When we were leading 2-0 away from home, we should have solidified our defense more, but we left too much space for the opponents. There were frequent crosses into our box, and they ultimately used those opportunities to counterattack us.”

Regarding the team’s tendency to concede goals after taking the lead, Maguire said: “When you start conceding goals after leading 2-0, it does affect the team’s belief in victory. This is something we need to pay attention to. It’s happening too frequently. After each goal conceded, we must quickly adjust and return to the tactical setup that initially helped us take the lead. This is what we urgently need to improve. If we want to achieve anything this season, we can’t afford to concede so many goals.”

Regarding the pressure faced by head coach Ten Hag, Maguire added: “I’ve been with this club for six years and understand how things work here. When the team hits a rough patch, both players and coaches face pressure. Ten Hag has extensive experience and a deep understanding of the club. I believe he is capable of handling the current situation properly. Part of playing for such a great club involves dealing with pressure.”