Harry Maguire questions Manchester United’s mental strength after Porto performance

Harry Maguire questioned Manchester United’s mental strength after they again sloppily conceded three goals in quick succession to raise further questions over the future of manager Erik ten Hag.

The centre-half came off the bench to salvage what could be a precious point in a 3-3 draw in the Europa League tie in Porto and insisted that Ten Hag was “experienced enough and been at this club long enough” to deal with the pressure he is under. “It’s part of the privilege you have playing for this club,” he added.

United impressively raced into a 2-0 lead only to give away three goals in 23 chaotic minutes and Maguire was later asked about their weakness at conceding quickly. “It’s more of a mental issue I think, it’s about belief,” he said. “It’s something that we need to be aware of and make sure when we do concede that we stick together and regroup… I’ve played for this club for six years and I know how it works.”

‘It’s happening far too many times’

Maguire said there had been a discussion after the game, with the United players staying in the dressing room for some time. “After every game we analyse and speak among ourselves. The manager spoke, some members of staff spoke and the players spoke,” he explained.

“When you go 2-0 up and then concede, does the belief go a bit with the boys that we can go on and win? It’s something we need to focus on. It’s happening far too many times. Every time you concede you have to reset and go back to the game plan which got us in the lead. It’s something we need to improve.”

Ten Hag acknowledged that his team did not defend well enough and “switched off”. He said of the result: “It is mixed feelings, yes. When you start so well and the players execute the plan so brilliantly and score two goals. And then we switched off. Defending we switched off. Then you light the fire in this stadium. But then I have to praise the guys for how they fight.”

Ten Hag’s future is under severe threat, with an away game against Aston Villa before the international break, and he caused a surprise by substituting Marcus Rashford – who had scored and provided an assist and was United’s best player – at half-time. He later revealed it was to rotate his squad with Alejandro Garnacho coming in and not because of injury.

“We have to rotate. Garnacho, we didn’t start him, but he had a great game not only Sunday [in the 3-0 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur] but the whole season,” Ten Hag said. “We go quickly with a turnaround to Villa and they have had a day longer to recover and we have an away game.”

‘Don’t judge us in the moment’

Ten Hag was asked whether the decision to take off Rashford was influenced by him not tracking back for Porto’s first goal.

“I have to watch it back and I think over the left side definitely we didn’t defend well tonight and Marcus also played a part in this. But, as I say, it had to do with Garnacho and nothing against Rashy,” he insisted.

Ten Hag also insisted he should remain in his post. “We will get there. Don’t judge us in this moment, judge us at the end of the season,” he said. “We are in the process, we will improve. We have had two seasons where we have reached finals, we will continue and fight.

“You see the spirit and the connection between the staff and the team. The players are together, they have a strong spirit and they want to achieve. We have a good mentality but in some defending parts we have to step up.”