Harry Maguire expressed his ability to handle the adversarial treatment from opposing fans, noting that it alleviates some of the pressure on his England teammates. This comes in the wake of the defender facing taunts from Scotland supporters after his own goal on Tuesday.
In the match, the 30-year-old Manchester United center-back was introduced at halftime in Glasgow, with England in the lead at 2-0. Unfortunately, he inadvertently provided the hosts with an opportunity by inadvertently redirecting a low cross into his own net in the 67th minute.
Maguire described his treatment by Scottish fans as “a little bit of banter”.
“It pretty much takes the pressure away from my teammates and puts it all on myself,” he told British media after England’s 3-1 win. “It makes them play better, for sure.
“We knew coming here, when you hear the national anthem and the way they disrespect that, we knew it would be hostile and in the second half I got most of it.
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“I am happy to go with that, don’t worry about that.”
Maguire, who joined United from Leicester City for 80 million pounds ($99.94 million) in 2019, was stripped of the club captaincy by manager Erik ten Hag in July.
Maguire has encountered difficulties securing consistent first-team action at the Premier League club and was the subject of transfer speculations away from Old Trafford during the close season.
“The first four weeks were hard because it was one game a week and the manager didn’t select me, but we have lots of games coming up now and I am sure I will play lots of games,” he said.
