Harry Maguire has shed light on the distinct managerial philosophies of Ruben Amorim and Erik ten Hag, amid Manchester United’s struggle in the Premier League, currently seated at 14th after their latest setback.
Maguire described Amorim as the complete “opposite” of Ten Hag, attributing the new manager’s “challenging” start to a reduced amount of time on the training ground. Under Amorim, United has suffered three consecutive defeats across all competitions, most recently falling 2-0 to Wolves on Boxing Day, as Matheus Cunha and Hwang Hee-chan sealed a vital victory for the hosts.
In his reflection on the game, Maguire opened up about Amorim’s methodology, contrasting it with that of his predecessor. “I think it’s a tough situation for the manager and his staff coming in, not least because he hasn’t adopted a style similar to that of the previous manager,” Maguire noted. “They demand different things and want to improve the team’s defensive setup and set-piece strategies, which makes their task even tougher.”
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Despite the challenging run, Maguire stressed that excuses wouldn’t suffice, stating, “This club has a winning mentality, and right now, we are not meeting that standard. It’s simply not acceptable for us or for the fans.”
Wolves opened the scoring thanks to Cunha, who netted directly from a corner, the ball curving over everyone and nestling into the net. United have now conceded nine goals from corners this season, more than any other team, and Maguire suspects that opposing teams are deliberately targeting their vulnerabilities.
“When this keeps happening, it’s not fair to label it as mere luck. It’s frustrating to concede twice from corners,” he remarked. “The one against Tottenham was a foul; that’s clear. I haven’t reviewed this latest one yet.
“We sometimes have to acknowledge when set-plays can’t be helped, though there are instances where we must critically evaluate our performance and make adjustments. That Bournemouth goal? A superb header from a fantastic delivery.
“It’s disheartening to be reduced to ten men, to hold the line well in the second half, yet to concede like that, especially from the first set-piece. Set-plays are vital in any match and can be decisive.
A lot of close-knit encounters hinge on the first goal, which, regrettably, has often been a result of set-plays against us. How do we tackle this? By spending more time on the training pitch.”
Magurie also emphasized that he senses teams are now specifically targeting their set-piece defenses. “Oddly enough, I don’t feel like we’re giving away many chances during open play. They did have a few chances tonight, which we dealt with well until they converted from a set-piece.
“The key is to keep working hard, maintaining belief in our abilities. We have capable defenders; we just need to stick together through these rough patches.”
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