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‘Not good enough’ Harry Maguire reveals Man Utd stars have ‘lost confidence’ when playing at home at Old Trafford
United hit a new low at Old Trafford last weekend
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HARRY Maguire reckons Old Trafford is once again a stadium that strikes fear into players – just not the right ones.
And the no-nonsense centre back has urged his Manchester United pals to shrug off their home sickness if they want to rescue a dismal season.
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On Friday, Maguire ticked one off his personal bucket list with a last-gasp headed winner in front of the Stretford End to save their FA Cup skins.
Yet United stumbled, rather than sparkled, to a 2-1 fourth round triumph over lowly Leicester, after trailing the relegation scrappers for much of the game.
Maguire – like everyone bar the officials – also knew he was one of FOUR men in an offside position when he scored, and the goal would have been ruled out had VAR been in operation.
And as a realist, he wasn’t about to get carried away by a place in the last 16…more concerned at getting his team-mates back on track in front of their own fans.
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The stadium which once struck fear into opponents throughout Europe in the glory years, now only causes those in United shirts to tremble.
They have won just five of 13 Premier League games at Old Trafford – and Maguire knows the rot must stop to get anything from the season.
He warned: “We can’t be starting games like that at Old Trafford. The run of results here has been so poor I think the boys have lost a little confidence of playing in front of the crowd.
“It’s something we need to address because if we want to be a successful team we’ve got to make it hard for teams to come here and play - and the first half wasn’t good.
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“We’ve got to stop conceding that first goal. If you’re not playing free-flowing football and the performances aren’t great, you’ve just got to keep yourself at 0-0 for as long as you can.
“We have talent in the team to change the momentum. But at the moment, whenever we come under a tiny bit of pressure we concede a goal and that’s not good enough.”
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Maguire’s winner came was allowed to stand despite being at least a yard beyond the Leicester backline – yet at least it finally saw him realise a personal dream.
He admitted: “Yes, it was a nice moment for myself because in six years at the club, I haven’t managed a last-minute winner at the Stretford End.
“I’ve scored at the Stretford End but not in the last minute, so it’s something I’ll never forget. It’s an amazing feeling.
“I can remember eight years ago I scored at the King Power for Leicester against Man United in the last minute, so it’s roles reversed now. I’m happy to be on the end of it.”
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United’s comeback was inspired when Alejandro Garnacho came off the bench for the second half, teeing up Joshua Zirkzee’s equaliser before the dramatic finish.
Maguire hailed the young Argentine winger’s impact and reckons it has to be a benchmark for the others to follow.
He added: “It was a great mentality from him tonight because I’m sure he was frustrated not to start and wants to play every game.
“But when he does come off the bench he always has a huge impact on the team. He did it in the Europa League last midweek with Amad, and changed the game there.
“Now he’s come on and changed the game again…he had a huge impact. I’m sure he doesn’t want to be called an impact player and he wants to be playing from the start.
“But credit to him, he was mentally right, mentally focused and came in with a great attitude. He definitely helped us to win the game.”
United equalled a humiliating 132-year record with the defeat to Crystal Palace last Sunday.
The result was the club's SEVENTH Premier League home defeat of the season - from just 13 matches.
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That is their joint-worst record at this stage of the season in their entire history.
In 1893-94, when still called Newton Heath, they went on to lose eight of their 15 home league games.
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