Manchester United fans demand for Harry Maguire to be reinstated as captain after video emerges

Manchester United fans have urged Erik ten Hag to restore Harry Maguire to his captaincy role after a behind-the-scenes video showcased his leadership qualities.

Maguire, one of the few senior players currently working at United's Carrington training ground, missed out on Euro 2024 due to injury. The 31-year-old defender was omitted from Gareth Southgate's squad due to a persistent calf issue and has been diligently working toward regaining full fitness for United's 2024/25 campaign.

He did not join the United team that traveled to Trondheim for Monday's match against Rosenborg, choosing instead to stay back and train with some of the club's young talents. A clip from MUTV showed Maguire greeting and shaking hands with every player in the gym on training bikes.

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The center-back, who was relieved of his captaincy by Erik ten Hag in July 2023 in favour of Bruno Fernandes, moved along the line of academy players, all of whom seemed thrilled to receive acknowledgement from a senior player. Despite losing the armband, it's clear Maguire still holds significant respect among the squad.

The video quickly gained traction on X, with numerous United fans expressing their admiration for Maguire some even suggesting he should reclaim the captaincy from Fernandes. "Acting like a leader," commented one fan, while posted: "That's my captain there."

"A captain's attitude," added a third fan. One fan praised Maguire's influence, saying: "You always hear from many players in and around the squad how Maguire makes them feel welcoming and at home right away. This is a nice example of this in training this week greeting all the young lads. A class act and great leader."

Maguire, who became a Red Devil following a move from Leicester in 2019, quickly donned the captain's armband under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in January 2020. Solskjaer himself expressed his views on leadership earlier this year.

"I knew Bruno Fernandes had captain qualities when I was manager at Manchester United," he said on the Stick to Football podcast . "He’s got the personality and quality - but he knows and I’ve told him - that he’s too passionate at times and he loses a bit of control. I loved Harry Maguire as a captain, he was the leader in that group for me when I was at the club."

He added: "The way that Harry Maguire has handled himself with everything happening to him at Manchester United is top class and just shows the character he’s got, that I want in players."

Liverpool.com says: Harry Maguire remains a leader in United's locker room. He's been one throughout his career, but it would be unwise to give him the armband again with his Old Trafford future in doubt. United should be looking to the future, not the past.