Manchester United defender Harry Maguire is reportedly training as often as “three times a day in the build-up to the new football season as he battles to regain his confidence and, hopefully, a place back in the team.
The 30-year-old spent much of the 2022/23 season on the bench for Man United and only really came back into the team to replace his injured colleagues, play cup ties or make short cameos towards the end of games. However, it looks as though the England international is fighting hard to get back on track.
Posting a number of images from a closed camp in Portugal along with the caption, “No Limits. No Excuses.”, the out-of-form centre-back gave a glimpse at the work he’s been doing in pre-season, where he’s been training one-on-one with former Chelsea and Real Madrid defender, Ricardo Carvalho.
Alongside teammate Diogo Dalot, it looks like United’s number five is determined to get back into the starting lineup or at least back to the levels that would make him desirable to another team, as he has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford for some time now.
Shedding some light on the three-week regime Maguire has been undertaking, journalist Fabrizio Romano told CaughtOffside that his current programme comes in the midst of a crucial period for the centre half whose future could be decided “in the next [few] days”.
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Romano claims that the decisive conversation with manager Erik ten Hag is looming large as “there are chances for Maguire to leave Old Trafford this summer”; the likes of Everton, West Ham and even a return to recently relegated Leicester have been rumoured.
ten Hag himself admitted that “no-one would be happy with this situation” insisting that Maguire “always trains to the best levels and with 100% effort, so if he handles that situation well and [in the right] manner”, then there is no reason why he can’t work his way back into the squad more regularly.
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Although it is said he could be about to officially lose the captain’s armband ahead of the new campaign, with Bruno Fernandes having essentially taken over the role last season, the Dutchman suggested that he can still be “important for the squad.”
With Lisandro Martinez having just come back from his long-term injury and Raphael Varane regularly dipping in and out of the side with fitness issues, the most expensive defender of all time could still very well have an opportunity to get back on the team sheet and stake a claim.
That being said, with club legend David de Gea having just left and transfer target Andre Onana being linked as the impending replacement as early as this week, United could be looking to complete what would be a largely new-look backline compared to the last few seasons.
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What do you think, is Maguire willing to fight for his place or is this simply a bit of shop-windowing?
Featured Image — Harry Maguire/Manchester United (via Instagram)
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Details of huge Manchester City parade through city centre announced
Daisy Jackson
The victorious Manchester City will be taking to the streets in the city centre once again to celebrate their historic four-in-a-row achievement.
Details of this year’s parade have just been announced, travelling from the National Football Museum and along Deansgate.
An open-top bus will carry the team and their winners’ silverware through town on Sunday, marking their unprecedented fourth Premier League victory in a row.
If previous years are anything to go by, thousands of fans will flood to the city centre to celebrate with Manchester City when they hit the streets on 26 May.
This also happens to be the same day as the Great Manchester Run, so Manchester is expected to be extremely busy.
After tens of thousands of runners cross the finish line on Deansgate, the space will be readied for the Manchester City Parade, which will take place from 7.30pm until around 9pm.
There’ll be a number of road closures in place on Sunday for both the race and the parade.
The Blues are the first ever male team since the inception of the Football League in 1888 to win four successive championships.
Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Congratulations to Manchester City. Being crowned premier league champions once again and for an astonishing fourth year in a row is an incredible achievement by the club and its players, showing once again that Manchester’s world class sporting credentials really are second to none.
“We know how much this means to fans of the club young and old – not just in Manchester but around the globe – and the homecoming parade on Sunday promises to be an unmissable night to remember for fans and players alike as they celebrate this historic title win together.”
A list of road closures over the weekend in connection with the Great Manchester Run is already available online at manchester.gov.uk/roadclosures and will be added to ahead of the weekend with any further road closures deemed necessary in order to facilitate the Manchester City parade.
Pep Guardiola admits he will miss Jürgen Klopp ‘a lot’ as Liverpool boss leaves club after nine years
Danny Jones
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confessed he will miss fellow coach and long-time rival Jürgen Klopp as he officially left Liverpool after nearly a decade this weekend.
The German football manager, who ended the Scousers’ 30-year wait for a first-division title and won them two more European cups, departed the club after nine years on Sunday following the final day of the 2023/24 Premier League season.
Having been given an emotional send-off by the Anfield faithful and delivering a heartfelt speech to the city he’s come to call “home”, Guardiola was obviously asked his thoughts on his final chapter in his post-match press conference.
While the focus was obviously on winning a record fourth league title in a row, a visibly emotional Pep did go on to admit, “I will miss him a lot”.
🗣️ "I will miss him a lot. Jurgen has been a really important part of my life."
Pep Guardiola CLOSE TO TEARS talking Jurgen Klopp, & not because his farewell overshadowed Man City winning the league. 😉
Clearly moved by the question and by taking in the years they’ve shared on the touchline, the 53-year-old said of his former Premier League and Bundesliga rival: “Jurgen has been a really important part of my life. He’s [taken] me to another level as a manager. I think we respect each other incredibly”.
He went on to add, “I have the feeling he’ll be back and I just want to say thank you so much for his words… he knows personally that behind me there a lot of things that this club provides me… he’s helped me with him and he’s been a huge competitor in my life”.
Even speaking prior to the game, Pep was already full of admiration for his opposite number, telling Sky Sports last week that not only will he miss Klopp but going so far as to claim that “football needs him, as well as naming his teams amongst those who he often struggled to unlock.
Safe to say the home crowd gave him a momentous send-off in his final appearance as the Liverpool manager, though he made certain he’ll be back to visit the city and Anfield again in the future.
Liverpool looked like he might be able to keep his side in the title fight right until the last but it ultimately went on to become a two-horse race, with the Blues beating him and Arsenal to the post once again.
Whether you’re behind ‘enemy lines’ here in Manchester or you’re just curious to hear what he said, you can watch Klopp’s farewell speech in full down below.
Regardless of the rivalries, you have to admit, it’s been great to watch the two coaches duke it out for the best part of a decade.
We’re sure Pep isn’t the only one in Manchester that’ll miss Klopp. Whoever you support, he’s been a massive character in English football.