Man United players to blame, not Erik ten Hag – Harry Maguire

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire feels the club’s players should take the onus for their mundane start to the season and the blame should not be put on the shoulders of manager Erik Ten Hag.

United have got off to a horrid start in the Premier League as they are in 14th place with two wins, one draw, and three losses in the six matches they have played.

The Red Devils played a 3-3 draw against Porto in their second match of the Europa League after a 1-1 draw against Twente. It was Maguire, who helped United share a point, as he scored in the stoppage time to make it 3-3 at the Estádio do Dragão.

“As a footballer, it’s easy to look around and blame other people and blame your teammate or blame the staff or the tactics,” Maguire said.

“You’ve got to look at yourself. We’re the ones that go on the pitch. We’re the ones that have to defend. You’ve got to take responsibility.”

According to ESPN sources, Ten Hag could be fired if United suffer a loss against Aston Villa on Sunday.

Meanwhile, United won both of their matches against Aston Villa in the previous season, including a 2-1 win at Villa Park.

“We’ve got to find belief within ourselves,” he said. “Take the belief from what we did last season at Villa Park. It was on fire last season there. Then we went there and got the victory that we needed last season. And we feel like we’re playing better than we were last season.

“The results haven’t been there. I feel like we should have more points on the board. But they’re not, so we need to do something about it starting with Sunday.”

Maguire has been left out of England’s latest squad by interim head coach Lee Carsley but he has been assured that he is part of the team’s plans for the future.

“He [Carsely] told me I’m a big part of the future,” Maguire said. “He just wants to see the other lads playing in this camp. And he doesn’t want to take me if I’m not going to start either game [against Greece and Finland], which is fair enough.

“Of course I’m disappointed. I want to play every game for England. But I know where he’s coming from and I’ve got to make sure that I perform when I’m on the pitch and give him no option to leave me out.

“I was a little bit surprised, I must say. But obviously I back his decision and he’s told me I’m part of the future.