What Ronaldo row? Captain Maguire silences the critics

Carlo Garganese

• 20 Feb 2022 15:04 GMT
• 4 min read

Harry Maguire has dominated the headlines this week at Old Trafford – and, not for the first time, for all the wrong reasons.

The British and European media was full of stories this week that Maguire was embroiled in a power struggle at the club with Cristiano Ronaldo.

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It was reported that Maguire was leading a group of English players who were unhappy with Ronaldo’s growing influence in the dressing room – and that the squad was divided been two factions led by the two experienced players. On one side was an English group led by Maguire and on another was a Portuguese-speaking pool including Ronaldo, Fred and Bruno Fernandes.

There were also growing calls that Maguire should be stripped of the Man Utd captaincy, partly due to his dismal form for much of the campaign.

Maguire has made a whopping 12 errors leading to goals this season already and by November had already surpassed the number of mistakes he made in the whole of the last campaign.

The defender himself put out a statement on Twitter ahead of Sunday’s game against Leeds denying stories of discontent.

“I’ve seen a lot of reports about this club that aren’t true and this is another. Not going to start posting about everything that is written but I needed to make this one clear. We’re united and focused on Sunday. Enjoy your day everyone,” Maguire tweeted.

Manager Ralf Rangnick also stressed just hours before kick-off that Maguire was his captain and that would not be changing until the end of the season.

"About the captaincy, we have a captain with Harry Maguire,” Rangnick said.

“He will be the captain until the end of the season for sure. What will happen in the next one, two, or three years? I don't know. That is not of any importance.”

And Maguire paid back Rangnick’s faith in him and silenced all the critics by heading Man Utd ahead in their crucial clash at Elland Road.

Maguire rose above his man to power home a header from Luke Shaw’s corner on 34 to put Man Utd ahead.

The Englishman ran over to the sideline to celebrate and was joined by all of his teammates, including Ronaldo, who mopped his colleague’s head.

If Maguire was as unpopular with certain teammates – including Ronaldo – as has been reported, then this was a funny way of showing it.

Maguire’s strike sent United on their way to a seemingly straightforward victory, with Bruno Fernandes doubling Man Utd’s lead on the stroke of half-time.

This was a must-win match for United in the race for a Champions League place, with three points allowing Rangnick’s team to open up a four-point lead in fourth over fifth-placed West Ham.

Harry Maguire: a true captain!