Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has compared under-fire Harry Maguire to Gerard Pique while defending the Red Devils captain.
Maguire has had a difficult campaign this year and has faced calls to stand down as captain and to be taken out of the starting line-up. In a cruel moment for the defender, Everton star Anthony Gordon's shot deflected off the centre-back at the weekend to net past David de Gea.
It led to United losing 1-0 to the Toffees but it has been a season full of disastrous moments for the England international. While it is not entirely Maguire's fault, the Red Devils are in the midst of one of their worst years in the Premier League and sit seventh in the table.
But Ferdinand has rushed to the defence of the United flop, insisting that his form for England shows that there is still a brilliant player in there. He compared his plight to that of Pique, who left Old Trafford as a youngster to forge out a successful career at Barcelona.
"In an England shirt he’s been nothing but phenomenal. He’s been unreal. You can’t say he’s a dead player, he’s been unbelievable for England," said Ferdinand on his Vibe with FIVE YouTube show.
"What I’m saying is, for England he’s been great, but they play a particular way of football that probably suits him. Gerard Pique was at Man United, you could argue that he might not have had the career that he’s had at Barcelona if he stayed at Man United because of the way he plays.
"It’s like boxing, styles make fights – it’s the same in football. The way of Man United’s football, and the way that they are trying to play, hasn’t suited him.
"But also form and confidence. His confidence has taken a big knock and I don’t care who you are, you could be Messi, Ronaldo, Zidane, Mbappe all these players – if their confidence is low they are not the same player."
Should Harry Maguire be dropped at United? Comment below
But while Ferdinand has defended Maguire's form this season, Rio's old partner at United - Nemanja Vidic - believes that he needs to be dropped from the squad for a while as he recuperates. "Every player has a problem with form at some time in his career," Vidic told The Athletic.
"I did and it's clear that Maguire is not at his best this season. The player needs to feel powerful and strong on the pitch again, not as it is now where he feels that it's not happening for him.
"It's difficult to play well when you're under so much pressure because people are waiting for you to make a mistake. You're asking me this and I'm replying as a coach."
