Harry Maguire Outlines Key Factor That Damaged Manchester United Last Season
- The 2023/24 season for Premier League side, Manchester United, was one of the worst football campaigns in recent history
- The English club largely put in lacklustre performances, which left many sceptical about the prowess of manager Erik Ten Hag.
- Former captain, Harry Maguire, has explained what affected the team's overall performance throughout the season
Manchester United endured a dismal, if not outright 'shambolic,' 2023/24 football season.
The Premier League side were eliminated in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League and suffered a series of humiliating defeats in the league, including against Crystal Palace and Bournemouth.
![Manchester United players in the FA Cup Semi-final. Manchester United players in the FA Cup Semi-final.](https://cdn.yen.com.gh/images/1120/e86124cffdc7e897.jpeg?v=1)
Source: Getty Images
According to data courtesy of Fotmob, the Red Devils won fewer than half of their 38 Premier League matches last season.
Former captain, Harry Maguire, has offered insights into the reasons behind the team's poor form and lacklustre performance throughout the season.
Maguire speaks on Manchester United's poor season
In an interview reported by ESPN, the 31-year-old Maguire highlighted how the persistent speculation about club manager Erik ten Hag's potential dismissal negatively impacted the team, saying it "damaged" their performance throughout the season.
"It probably did damage our performances and results throughout the season, especially around the Christmas period when we really struggled. But credit to the manager for the way he handled it."
Maguire remarked on the period of uncertainty, stating,
"It was so strange. No one really knew what was going on, and there was no reassurance. If you asked the players, they would probably say they didn’t really know because no one had a clear idea."
The defender, however, praised Ten Hag's handling of the situation, noting,
"It was really impressive how he managed that week, ending in a victory against one of the best teams in Europe right now."
Despite the speculation about Ten Hag's future, minority owners Ineos eventually confirmed him as the ideal manager for the upcoming season.
Ten Hag and his Manchester United squad will be aiming to reward the owners' faith with strong performances and potentially secure a title in the 2024/25 season.
Erik ten Hag on Sancho
YEN.com.gh also reported that Erik ten Hag spoke about his private talk with Jadon Sancho following their falling out in September 2023.
The former Ajax coach said he spoke with the winger and they will move on. He named the Englishman in their 2-0 win over Rangers on Saturday, July 20.
PAY ATTENTION: Stay informed and follow us on Google News!
Source: TUKO.co.ke