Michael Carrick has already made his Harry Maguire stance clear – ‘It’s hard’
Harry Maguire’s Old Trafford future is up in the air but Michael Carrick has clear thoughts on the Englishman’s next step
Michael Carrick has opened up about his thoughts on Harry Maguire(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Michael Carrick has hailed Harry Maguire’s importance to Manchester United amid his uncertain future at Old Trafford.
The centre-back is in his seventh season at the club but with his contract expiring at the end of the season, it could very well be his last. Maguire – who was this week handed a 15-month suspended jail sentence after being found guilty of non-serious assault in Mykonos in 2020 – is said to be keen to extend his career in Manchester.
While his standing in the squad looked murky under Ruben Amorim, given he started just four Premier League games under the Portuguese boss before his January sacking, he’s enjoyed a new lease of life under Carrick.
Since the interim appointment of the former United star, Maguire has started in all eight league games, with the only loss coming in the 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United on Wednesday night.
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His return to the starting line-up has seen the defender put in some of the best performances of his Old Trafford career, and he’s back in contention for a World Cup spot in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.
While it remains to be seen whether Carrick will be awarded the permanent head coaching role at United, in the possibility that he takes on the mantle, a new deal for Maguire may be on his agenda following his recent comments on him.
Prior to United’s victory over Crystal Palace last week, Carrick said: “Harry’s an impressive character. He’s had a great career so far and hopefully there’s a lot more to come. I think in what he’s been here and the journey and the experiences that he’s had certainly since he’s been here and with England as well I think show exactly what he is.
“Within the squad there is that balance, you want that younger potential and excitement, but you need the sweet spot in the middle with players at the peak, and experience is massive. It’s hard to put a price on how valuable that can be.
“Harry has gained an awful lot of experience with this club. Casemiro leaving is another one and we have to understand what that means.” When asked whether Maguire is playing the best football of his career, Carrick answered: “There is a case [for that].
“As your career goes when you’re a young player and everything is fresh, you’re fearless and there’s not many scars there. You get to your peak years and you feel good and everything is there, but you’ve had a few ups and downs.
“You get towards the later times and the experience should make you a better player, we’ve seen that with Harry’s performances of late. That’s why experience is important, I felt it when I was playing, 31 or 32 were my best years of being in that sweet spot to do it physically still but use the experiences to know what is coming.”
Following defeat at St James’ Park, United are not in action until March 15 when they host fellow top four rivals Aston Villa, who fell to a crushing 4-1 home loss to Chelsea on Wednesday.
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