Manchester United players will return from international duty this week to prepare for their next domestic fixture against Nottingham Forest.
Manchester United had 12 players involved in the March internationals, while those left out of their squads had a week to recharge their batteries.
Ruben Amorim will be eager to pick up right where he and Manchester United left off before the break – winning consecutive matches and performing well.
The only way to lift momentum is by winning football matches. United are gearing up for a busy end to the season despite being in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
United may be out of the race to finish in the top four this season, but Amorim’s side could still qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League outright. That will be the main objective for every United player and the manager for the rest of the campaign.
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Harry Maguire fighting for his England future
Thomas Tuchel was always going to make changes when he became England manager.
One of those changes could negatively impact Harry Maguire’s international career, after serving Gareth Southgate well in years gone by.
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Maguire was one of Southgate’s most trusted lieutenants, especially in defence, but that doesn’t appear to be the case under Tuchel. The German coach has stated his reason for dropping Maguire from the first squad he assembled wasn’t tied to the defender’s physical condition.
Tuchel also acknowledged the tough situation at United, where Maguire plays in a back three when fit, albeit in a team struggling to win matches.
“It was a close decision,” Tuchel said when asked about snubbing the 64-cap international, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.
“We chose Marc Guehi and Ezri Konso at the moment. I think they are a little bit in a better rhythm and deserve to be with us.
“Two right footers in central defence and the rest were left footers in the centre of defence. It’s not so easy for him at the club at the moment. He plays in a back three on top of it.”
This is probably the last thing Maguire wanted to hear from Tuchel ahead of the 2026 World Cup, but the former Chelsea boss added that he will be in contention for future selections.
Harry Maguire stats for England
Maguire has rarely let down his country on the pitch, which is why he became such a trusted figure under Southgate.
On top of 64 appearances for the Three Lions, Maguire has scored seven goals and registered two assists, which is an impressive feat for a centre-back.
However, Maguire is not getting any younger and at 32 may start thinking about his future on the international stage.
Tuchel hasn’t completely closed the door on Maguire and he also noted that the defender has been recovering from injury.
Maguire did not go to last summer’s European Championship because of a lack of fitness and now could be facing World Cup heartbreak.
It remains to be seen if Maguire will be fit enough to face Nottingham Forest next Tuesday since United have the weekend off due to being eliminated from the FA Cup.