Manchester United defender Harry Maguire says dressing room IS ‘unified’ and backs his manager

Harry Maguire has slammed claims that there has been a dressing room split at Manchester United, and has offered to support to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the wake of Sunday’s humiliating 5-0 defeat to rivals Liverpool. 

Reports of dressing room disharmony have emerged in the aftermath of their thumping defeat to their greatest rivals at Old Trafford on Sunday.

There were suggestions that Paul Pogba, who was sent off in the game, snubbed the Manchester United manager after the game. While an unnamed player questioned the manager’s call to make Harry Maguire captain of the team.

Reports of a dressing room split have emerged since Manchester United’s embarrassing defeat to Liverpool

Speaking to Norway’s TV2, Maguire has come out and expressed the team is still unified despite the Red Devils’ turmoil in recent weeks. 

He said: ‘In the two-and-a-half years I’ve been here, I’ve noticed that when we lose a football game there’s a lot of talk. Most of it isn’t true.

‘The mood is that we are disappointed and hurt. We are footballers who play at the highest level. We know what the requirements are in this club. We have a lot of experience, many leaders and many people who say what they mean.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s position is at risk after the 5-0 defeat to Liverpool at Old Trafford

Paul Pogba supposedly snubbed Solskjaer after the game in which he was sent off

‘You see small pieces here and there, but you try to avoid reading things. When you have had an ugly defeat against your rival, Liverpool, I do not think the main focus is to read reports where you see these rumours.

‘I know from my experience in this club that when you lose matches, there are always rumours about what happens in the dressing room, but most of it is not true. We have a strong and unified dressing room. We stand together on this and move forward together.’

The man who has been questioned the most in the aftermath of the game is Solskjaer, with United only picking up one point in their last four games.

United suffered a defeat to Aston Villa and a draw against Everton which were both at home, before falling to a 4-2 defeat to Leicester before their stunning loss to Liverpool.

An unnamed United player is said to have questioned Solskjaer for giving Maguire the captain’s arm band

Maguire was given the captain’s armband just six months after joining the Red Devils

When asked whether Solskjaer is a good man to have at Manchester United, the England international replied: ‘Yes of course. 

‘Ole has played for this club for many years and he has been the manager for three years. He knows what to expect and I’m sure he can handle the ups and downs. He knows what’s going on in this club.

‘That [defeat against Liverpool] was of course disappointing for him, but it was disappointing for everyone involved in this club. Everyone looks at themselves and where they can improve, that also applies to me.

‘The most important thing is to improve individually and come together as a team. We are strong boys with a good team spirit, and we stand together. We disappointed ourselves on Sunday and we know that, so we have to improve.’

Maguire himself has been slammed in the aftermath of recent defeats to Leicester and Liverpool. 

Solskjaer’s tactics and refusal to change a losing team have been questioned by one player

Maguire has struggled to replicate his Euro 2020 displays with England for United this season

The centre-back picked up an ankle injury before Euro 2020, but returned mid-way through the tournament and was one of England’s star performers as they reached the final where they were beaten on penalties by Italy.

The 28-year-old though has yet been able to replicate that form for United this season – something which has been said about Maguire in past after his standout performances for England.  

When asked on his own lack of form he said: ‘I’ve struggled to find the rhythm. I’m my biggest critic, so I know when I’m playing well, and when I’m not playing well, I’m always looking for ways to improve myself,’ he stressed.

‘I had been injury free for a long time, then I got a big injury in the ankle. I came back and played a tough European championship, and I have had some blows this season which has led to me struggling to find the rhythm.’