Former Manchester United centre-back Jaap Stam has explained why Harry Maguire has found things tough so far this season.
Maguire struggled at the end of the 2021-22 campaign under Ralf Rangnick and was booed during one of United's pre-season matches. Things haven't picked up all that much this term, at least not yet, with United losing their first two competitive games under Erik ten Hag, including a 4-0 humbling at Brentford.
United's decline is a far cry from Stam's days at the club, when they were regularly competing for the Premier League title. However, the Dutchman does not believe Maguire is the only one to blame for the problems at the back.
“Harry can do better than what he’s been showing for the club, because this manager is asking things of him that maybe he’s not always used to,” Stam told safebettingsites.com, per the Manchester Evening News. “That takes a certain time to get the confidence in doing so and having that self-belief to perform better.
“Now, United are playing with one holder instead of two, that makes it more difficult as well, and easier for the opposition to press. These are things that can help Maguire out.”
Maguire was used as a left-sided centre-back by Rangnick and predecessor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last season. He has switched sides to accommodate new signing Lisandro Martinez, though, and Stam is unconvinced by the protection being offered to the England international by right-back Diogo Dalot.
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“It’s important the players alongside him, but also in front of him, the midfield players, are helping him out, and giving him the right options,” Stam continued. “Dalot on the right side, he needs to help Maguire out as well by taking up the right positions. A lot of times, that’s not helping him.
“Defensively, sometimes he’s [Maguire] making decisions that are not the correct ones. But that’s also true for a lot of players around him.”
Stam's comments come as the former Leicester centre-back has emerged as a surprise target for Chelsea, who could themselves lose Christian Pulisic to United this month. The Blues have reportedly turned their attention to Maguire after missing out on a number of other central defensive targets, with Presnel Kimpembe staying at Paris Saint-Germain and Jules Kounde opting to move to Barcelona.
Chelsea have also shown an interest in Leicester's Wesley Fofana, who cost the Foxes £35million from Saint-Etienne in 2020. The 21-year-old was left out of Brendan Rodgers' Leicester squad for the Foxes' Premier League meeting with Southampton on Saturday.
