Harry Maguire admits to problem with Lisandro Martinez in first Manchester United start together against Brighton.
Harry Maguire has acknowledged that during Manchester United’s Premier League loss to Brighton, he and Lisandro Martinez were not on the same page.
At Old Trafford, Erik ten Hag’s administration began with a defeat of 2-1. Pascal Gross scored twice in the first half to give Graham Potter’s team a 2-0 lead, and they were unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty when Martinez collided with Danny Welbeck after the interval.
Although Alexis Mac Allister’s own goal cut United’s deficit in half, they were unable to tie the score. The hosts put up a dismal effort, with Cristiano Ronaldo starting the game on the bench. The errant forward entered the game in the second half but had little effect.
The fact that Captain Maguire and Martinez were chosen over Ten Hag’s other defensive alternatives may have been a stroke of luck. Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly, and Phil Jones were not selected for the 20-man squad, while fellow centerback Raphael Varane was left on the substitutes’ list.
Maguire said to Sky Sports after the game, “We went into the game positive, we had a good pre-season and it was the worst possible start to be 2-0 down at halftime at Old Trafford. “We scored a goal after some huffing and puffing, but it wasn’t a good start for us.
“We had control as a squad and got off to a really strong start. Then we gave up the first goal, which severely hurt us.
We need to think about how to avoid having that first aim push us back as much. Being 2-0 behind at the half was a terrible start.
“At halftime, we spoke about scoring the next goal. We played well in the second half, but all in all, I believe we fell short. We were under a lot of pressure and had a lot of the ball, but we still need to be a little more inventive.
We must deal with it or it will continue to happen. The first goal struck all 11 of our players as a huge blow.
Maguire continued, “It’s nice to have Lisandro Martinez at the club,” in reference to his collaboration with Martinez. At center back, there is rivalry for the positions. We haven’t played much together, and in the beginning, we didn’t communicate well. Centre-back partnerships are built over time and we will get a lot better and keep clean sheets.
“The assignment was known to all. Last year, we had a poor season. Our new manager is attempting to instill his mentality inside the squad, but when we don’t do it correctly, we come off as being overly frank.”
After a challenging 2021–2022 season, Ten Hag has stated that Maguire will continue as United’s captain. The 29-year-old received criticism from the press and Red Devils supporters, but he is adamant about succeeding at Old Trafford. Three years ago, he moved from Leicester to the club.
What can fans anticipate from the team this year? Maguire responded when questioned by United’s website “I consider perseverance and work above all else. Running and fighting for the badge will excite the crowd and make the squad one to be proud of.”
