Harry Maguire has urged Andre Onana to disregard the criticism and “give it your all” ahead of Manchester United’s upcoming Europa League clash against Lyon on Thursday night.
Ruben Amorim’s side holds the prospect of securing Champions League football by winning the Europa League, but first, they need to overcome Lyon in front of their home fans, following a 2-2 stalemate in the first leg of the quarter-final.
Onana recently faced harsh words from former Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic, who labelled him as one of the worst goalkeepers in the club’s history. The keeper also had a difficult outing in France.
He was subsequently benched during United’s Premier League defeat to Newcastle on Sunday, attracting significant scrutiny from both the media and the supporters. However, Amorim confirmed on Wednesday that Onana will return to the starting lineup for the second leg at Old Trafford this week.
“You do your best to block it all out. Stay focused on your role, come in each day and give it your utmost,” Maguire commented when discussing Onana.
“I’ve always told myself, ‘that’s all you can do’. Tomorrow night presents another football match, and you need to step onto that pitch and give everything you’ve got.
“When you leave the field, you should feel you’ve given your all. Regardless of how you perform, that’s all you can do.
“This applies to any player who dons this badge; it comes with the duty to perform. When performances falter and league results are subpar, it’s inevitable some individuals come under scrutiny.
“I’ve experienced this myself, but all you can do is consistently give your best, work diligently, and treat each game as it comes.”
‘We’ve been far too inconsistent’
Currently languishing in 14th position with just 38 points from 32 Premier League matches, United are on track to record their worst-ever season in England’s top tier.
“It’s been a disappointing season without a doubt. From the outset, inconsistency has plagued us,” Maguire lamented.
“I think the performances have improved recently. However, we still need to take greater responsibility in key moments and alter those in our favour.
“We’ve faced numerous games that were evenly matched, but we’ve often found ourselves on the wrong end of the outcome. This is something we must improve as a cohesive team.
“Tomorrow night is crucial for us in this competition. A major game at Old Trafford, a European night, and it’s one we are really looking forward to.”
The England international acknowledged that even if the Europa League is won, it wouldn’t necessarily redeem the season, but would provide a “significant boost” in qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
“It’s vital,” he affirmed about the trophy. “Winning the Europa League would still mean this season is disappointing for us as players, but securing that trophy would be a significant bonus.
“This club demands trophies, and clinching the Europa League would be something truly special.
“It would give us a pathway to the Champions League next season, which we can’t achieve through the Premier League due to our current results.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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