Ralf Rangnick explains reason behind Harry Maguire’s Manchester United struggles

Ralf Rangnick admits Harry Maguire is having difficulty adjusting to what he demands from his Manchester United centre-backs.

The England international has come in for criticism in recent months for a string of below par performances.

Poor displays in back-to-back 1-1 draws with Burnley and Southampton have even seen calls from some sections of the fanbase as well as pundits call for him to be taken out of the team and even stripped of the captaincy.

Rangnick has no plans to drop the former Hull defender and believes he may be struggling to play in a back-four, even though he has only played in a back three with England on a handful of occasions.

‘I think after he came back after his injury he did extremely well he had a very good performance against West Ham,’ Rangnick said.

‘In the last two games he had some weaker moments both against Southampton and when we conceded the goal against Burnley.

‘But again, he is our captain and I don’t see any reason to change that. He is also a player who has to develop and get better like all the other players.

‘The way we playing now is new to him, also because in the English national team he is used to playing in a back three and here at Manchester United in a back four, but still not being as proactive with that kind of defence when we try and be on the front foot trying to defend.

‘This is something new to him and it will take some time for him to get used to that and adjusted to that and this is what I can say to that.’

Former United defender Rio Ferdinand suggested earlier this month after his errors in the draw with Burnley that Maguire could be suffering physically and mentally from his exploits with England last summer.

‘It’s a performance I’m sure he’ll want to erase and get into the next game as quick as possible but these things happen,’ he said.

‘This season you’ve definitely seen that, whether that’s a hangover from the Euros physically and mentally I’m not sure.

‘There hasn’t been the consistency you expect from a player of his stature.

‘We can level it at Harry Maguire but this whole team has to take responsibility. They’re not performing consistently enough through the whole 90 minutes of the game.’

MORE : Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick is ‘out of his depth’, claims Danny Murphy

MORE : Rio Ferdinand insists Man Utd duo need someone ‘screaming’ at them in matches

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Source: Metro Sport