Gareth Southgate, England’s manager, strongly defended Harry Maguire against his critics during a friendly international match against Scotland at Hampden. Maguire, the Manchester United center back, had been stripped of his captaincy and told he had no future at the club. Despite England having a 2-0 lead when he entered the game in the second half, Maguire was jeered by the crowd and even scored an own goal.
Southgate, however, was heartened to hear the visiting supporters singing Maguire’s name during the 3-1 victory and launched a passionate defense of the 30-year-old after the game. He acknowledged that the Scotland supporters had every right to express themselves but attributed Harry’s treatment to the prolonged criticism he had endured from pundits and commentators. Southgate emphasized Maguire’s significant contributions to England’s success and described him as a pillar and a rock for the team.
Southgate expressed his admiration for Maguire’s character, noting that he handled the media in his usual composed manner. He believed that Maguire’s qualities as a player and a person were evident to all.
Despite criticism following England’s 1-1 draw with Ukraine in a Euro 2024 qualifying match, Southgate was pleased with England’s performance against Scotland. He explained that their goal was to control the game and silence the passionate atmosphere. Southgate praised England’s passing and defensive work, which he believed led to a fantastic performance and ensured that Scotland was no longer a threat.
Southgate also highlighted the performance of Jude Bellingham and their strategy to limit Scotland’s midfield impact. He acknowledged the progress made by the Scottish squad under Steve Clarke and urged people to consider that the reaction to England’s performance had been influenced by the recent Ukraine game.
