Brendan Rodgers believes Manchester United fans have created the current noise around England defender Harry Maguire.
Little more than two years ago, the centre-back was an ever-present for Manchester United and earned a place in the Euros team of the tournament after helping Gareth Southgate’s side reach the final.
But a drop in form and club game time, including being replaced as United captain, has led pressure and criticism to ratchet up on Maguire to a point that his international manager snapped following Tuesday’s 3-1 friendly win against Scotland.
Furious Gareth Southgate said the treatment of Maguire is “ridiculous”, “a joke” and “beyond anything I’ve ever seen” – a narrative that he believes led to home fans goading him mercilessly in Glasgow.
Every pass Maguire made was met by an ironic cheer after being brought on as a half-time substitute at Hampden Park.
Rodgers worked alongside Maguire at Leicester City and he to shares the thoughts of Southgate, but he feels Manchester United fans are to blame.
He said: "I know Harry well having worked with him and I find it a real shame if I'm honest. He's a good guy but he's obviously a top class player and the focus and noise that's been around him, sadly, has probably been created more by his own club's supporters, and that's spilled out to other supporters.
"I was at the game the other night. This is a guy who remember started a World Cup, he's not that bad a player. If you needed someone by your side when it's tough, you'd want him beside you. He's a great man, he's very honest to the game. I know why Gareth picks him, he's been fantastic for England, a real leader amongst the young players that's coming through there.
"I find it a real shame that a player who, when he went into Manchester United, found himself really quickly to be the Manchester United captain. I can't speak highly enough of him. He's a fantastic man, I see the noise that goes around him. It's a real shame, it's just sad where it was created. But he's tough, he's mentally strong and he'll prove throughout the rest of his career that he's a very, very good player.
"You don't go from being in a team in the World Cup and being recognised as a top international player, to people making fun of you. That's something you sometimes have to deal with as a player and manager, but he'll get through it."
