England’s Harry Maguire expressed his ability to handle hostile treatment from opposing fans and how it can relieve the pressure on his England teammates. This comes after the defender faced mockery from Scottish fans due to his own goal during Tuesday’s match.
The 30-year-old Manchester United center-back entered the game at halftime in Glasgow with England leading 2-0. However, he unintentionally gave Scotland a chance by accidentally deflecting a low cross into his own net in the 67th minute.
England’s Harry Maguire downplayed the treatment he received from Scottish fans, referring to it as “a bit of banter.” He stated that this kind of attention shifts the pressure away from his teammates and places it squarely on himself, ultimately improving their performance.
“We were aware that coming here, the atmosphere would be hostile, especially when you hear the national anthem and the way it’s disrespected,” Maguire mentioned. “I faced most of it in the second half, and I’m perfectly fine with that.”
Maguire, who transferred to Manchester United from Leicester City for £80 million ($99.94 million) in 2019, had his club captaincy revoked by manager Erik ten Hag in July. Securing regular first-team opportunities at the Premier League club has proven challenging for him, and there were speculations linking him with a potential departure from Old Trafford during the recent transfer window.
“The initial four weeks were tough because it was a game per week, and the manager didn’t choose me,” he explained. “But we have many upcoming matches, and I’m confident I’ll have plenty of playing time.”