‘I want to start more games, but I’m playing my part on and off the field’: Harry Maguire admits he’s eager to play more football after rare runout in Man United’s win at Real Betis – but insists he’s ‘got an important role’ still as club captain

Harry Maguire has admitted that he ‘wants to start more games’ and is eager to regain his place in Erik ten Hag’s XI at Manchester United.

The Red Devils sealed their place in the last eight with a 5-1 aggregate victory over Real Betis in the Europa League on Thursday.

Maguire, who has slipped below first-choice centre-backs Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez in Ten Hag’s pecking order, captained the team to a clean sheet in just his sixth start since the turn of the year, but he made it clear he is hoping for more.

‘I work hard at the training ground and that’s all that you can do,’ he told BT Sport after the match. 

‘You can work hard in training, I put everything into training. We have good coaches at this club and they put on really good sessions for us the day after games.

Harry Maguire wants to start more games and is eager to be the first-choice defender at United

Harry Maguire wants to start more games and is eager to be the first-choice defender at United

Maguire captained the team to a clean sheet as they beat Real Betis 5-1 in the Europa League

Maguire captained the team to a clean sheet as they beat Real Betis 5-1 in the Europa League

‘Listen, it’s not been too long since my last game, I think it is a couple of weeks ago, I have started five, six, seven since the World Cup.

‘Obviously, I want to play more, I want to start more games, but I’m playing my part on and off the field. 

‘It’s nice to be out there leading the team and getting the victory, which is the most important part for myself and the club.

‘I’ve got an important role on and off the field at this club and every day I try to make this club succeed, whether I’m playing or not.’

Former United midfielder-turned pundit Paul Scholes praised the way Maguire had handled himself and said the defender featuring for England in their upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers after he was selected in Gareth Southgate’s squad would benefit his club.

‘Harry’s in a difficult position not playing games but I think his attitude there with the interview saying ‘it doesn’t matter if I’m playing or not, it’s my job to make sure I can make the club as successful as they can be,” Scholes said.

‘I think that guarantees him in the England situation as well. It’s a good thing. It’s good for Man Utd as well that he will go away and get a couple of games that will only bode well for Manchester United.’

Maguire has made 23 appearances for United this season but has found his starts limited owing to the form of Varane and Martinez.

United will find out their Europa League quarter-final opponents when the draw is conducted on Friday. 

Paul Scholes praised Harry Maguire's attitude and said he would be looking forward to getting minutes for England

Paul Scholes praised Harry Maguire’s attitude and said he would be looking forward to getting minutes for England

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Post source: Daily mail

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