HARRY MAGUIRE told Manchester United’s new boys to pretend they are still kicking a ball around in the playground.
The England defender has spent the last six years at Old Trafford and knows the pressure of the red shirt can be too much for some players.
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Striker Benjamin Sesko and fellow forwards Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have joined this summer as part of a £200million spending spree.
That has got fans excited ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, which they begin on Sunday with a clash against old rivals Arsenal.
However Maguire — appearing on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast — believes stars who arrive at the Theatre of Dreams have to be able to handle the heat . . . no matter how good they are.
They will also have to cope with the fact everyone will hate them because they play for the Red Devils.
Centre-back Maguire, 32, said: “Mental strength definitely has a big part to play.
“You’ve got to thrive off the pressure and you’ve got to play like you’re playing in a playground — and that’s what we’ve struggled to find over the last ten years.
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“There has been a transition period, obviously. When Alex Ferguson was here, we had the best team by far and won all the trophies.
“But in the transition period at the moment, the reality is that we’re not the best team.
“It’s how people and how the lads can adapt to that level of scrutiny and to keep going through that scrutiny.
“Bruno Fernandes is a perfect example. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks and he believes in his ability — and shows it on the pitch.”
Maguire’s advice to the summer signings would be to make sure they have good people around to support them during the difficult periods.
And do not go assuming that you have made it — because things can turn very quickly when you are a United player.
He said: “I see a lot of players at Manchester United break through in one or two years.
“And then, after the second year, you start getting questioned and the form dips a little bit. It happens so much.
“It’s really important to have good support around you, good family around you. But obviously, some players come from different countries and don’t have that.
“So the main thing I always say is that you can only do what you can do. And on the football pitch, you get judged.
“And when you play for this club, everything gets analysed. Every goal that goes in the back of the net is someone’s fault.
“You do become used to it. But for a young boy coming into it, when you’re a young boy, you have no fear.
“And then, once you make a couple of mistakes, after a couple of seasons, people then start expecting things from you.
“And then that is when the real test comes.”
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Some fans have ended up scratching their heads over why 64-cap Maguire plays so much better for the national team than he does for his club side.
And the defender believes it is for a similar kind of reason, adding: “There’s more scrutiny on Manchester United, just because more people in the country hate them. And that’s just a fact.
“Everyone in the Premier League dislikes Man United and they don’t want to see them do well. So there is more scrutiny on Manchester United, whereas England, everyone gets together.
“And England’s another story. What happens with England is when you get over 30, the fans start to think ‘get out’.
“They want to play these young guys who are coming through who have amazing highlights on Twitter and things.”
We couldn’t run hard enough. We didn’t win enough duels.
Harry Maguire on shambolic season
Maguire believes that United were not physically up to challenging in the Prem last season — as evidenced by their 15th-place finish — but hopes it will be different this time around.
Boss Ruben Amorim has had a full pre-season and will also have plenty of blank midweeks to work on the training ground with no European football.
Maguire, who started his career at Sheffield United and played for Hull and Leicester before moving to United in 2019, said: “We want to be challenging at the top. We have a lot of talent in the squad obviously and the players we’ve brought in are going to improve us massively.
“And it’s really good that we’ve had a full pre- season to work under this manager. He spoke about it a lot last season that we just didn’t have a chance to train.
“When he first took over, I think the physicality of our squad wasn’t good enough for the Premier League.
“We couldn’t run hard enough. We didn’t win enough duels. He’s realised that now we have got a full pre-season and I think the lads are looking leaner and sharper.
“We now have good competition for places and I’m sure they’ll bring in a couple more. But it’s looking a lot brighter.”
The £85m defender also gave a ringing endorsement to Fernandes — the man who took the captain’s armband off him two years ago.
He revealed: “I said to Bruno, if I had to give it away to anyone — which I didn’t want to — he’d be the man to take the club forward.
“He is a great player and leader.”
LISTEN to the full Rio Meets Harry Maguire interview on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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Man Utd’s transfer deals
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- Bryan Mbeumo – from Brentford – £71m
- Matheus Cunha – from Wolves – £62.5m
- Diego Leon – from Cerro Porteno – £7m
- Benjamin Sesko – from RB Leipzig – £74m
TOTAL – £214.5m
OUT
- Victor Lindelof – released
- Christian Eriksen – released
TOTAL – £0m
