The hubris of Ruben Amorim’s reign and the extent to which it hurt Man Utd is slowly coming to focus, as Harry Maguire has suggested another habit of his that hurt the team.
Even if Michael Carrick had not performed miracles to guide his team to two victories against England’s top two sides, it wouldn’t have vindicated Ruben Amorim.
That is because it was clear, regardless of the results, that Amorim wasn’t getting the best out of the resources he had at his disposal.
With Ruben Amorim SACKED, where will Manchester United finish in 2025/26?
Let's see your predictions!
Patrick Dorgu celebrates with his teammates during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United.
Photo by Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Harry Maguire has just revealed a part of the reason why, since Amorim kept setting an impossible challenge for his defence every week.
Ayden Heaven wins header for Manchester United.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Harry Maguire on ‘hardest’ job as a defender
Maguire was one of the players who earned Amorim’s trust, to nobody’s surprise, since the Englishman’s model professional nature has won over every manager.
He’s not someone to call out managers in public, so his latest comments don’t reflect well on Amorim at all.
Speaking on Man Utd’s Inside Carrington podcast, Maguire spoke about the “hardest” job as a defender in football, and the narrative wasn’t lost on anyone that it’s exactly what Amorim asked his defenders to do every game.
More United News
He said: “That’s one of the hardest things, I think, as a defender of having to come on in the 70th minute when you’re winning 1-0, it’s tough.
“I find it tough now, and I’m experienced, having been in that situation numerous times. So these boys are learning the hard way. That’s why you’ve got to remember that the young lads, there’s going to be mistakes, but there’s also going to be very good games as well.
“Like Ayden has shown over this season when he’s been thrown in, and he’s done excellent.”
The irony isn’t lost on anyone, since Amorim’s swapping his centre-backs around the 70th-minute mark almost became a running joke at Old Trafford.
It’s not a coincidence that the team kept conceding late goals to drop points, because, as Maguire said, Amorim was setting them the hardest challenge there can be for a defender.
Ayden Heaven succeeded despite Ruben Amorim
Maguire’s Heaven example is not random, since the young defender was one of the players who was “thrown in” out of nowhere, in Maguire’s own words.
Should Harry Maguire get a contract extension beyond the 2025/26 season?
Harry Maguire celebrating at Anfield
Photo by PETER POWELL/AFP via Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
After Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt’s injury, Heaven was thrust into the starting line-up straight away without any significant game time.
It led to a forgettable game for him against West Ham as Amorim subbed him off at half-time, but Heaven grew into it after that.
It speaks volumes about Heaven’s mentality to recover from a setback, because Amorim had set him up to fail, and then some.
The same can be said for the numerous times a defender came on in the 70th minute and unsettled the structure of the backline, before going on to be criticised for looking shaky.
As Maguire admits, any player would struggle in those circumstances. The hardest job in football for a defender is completely avoidable, and it’s also something Amorim actively sought out for his players.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox