Manchester United captain Harry Maguire responds to Roy Keane’s ‘lack of leadership' criticism
Keane questioned character of Solskjaer’s side after defeat to Arsenal
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Your support makes all the difference.Harry Maguire has dismissed Roy Keane’s suggestion that Manchester United lack leaders, insisting that the squad has players who are willing to take responsibility within its ranks.
Keane questioned the character of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side following their limp performance in a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday.
"I don’t see men out there. I don’t see guys you want to be in the trenches with, guys you trust," the former United captain said while appearing as a pundit on Sky Sports.
Maguire, United's current captain, said he had not heard Keane's specific remarks but maintained that leadership is not an issue at Old Trafford.
"I haven't seen his comment but we don't look on what's happening after a negative result, we don't bring negativity into the team," the 27-year-old said.
"We stay positive and I can for sure say there's a lot of leaders in this squad. I'm the captain and I've got a lot of leadership around me as well, staff and players. So for sure, there's a lot of leaders in the squad."
Maguire himself has come in for criticism after enduring a poor run of performances at the start of the season, not long after his arrest on the Greek island of Mykonos.
The United captain is appealing against the guilty verdict which led to him receiving a suspended 21-month jail sentence, but he said he is not allowing off-the-pitch issues to affect his football.
"My mind is fully focussed on football," he said. "Obviously I had a difficult period in the summer but now I’m fully focussed. I come into training each day and work as hard as I can. I focus on each game as it comes. Now I can only say I’m still fully focussed each day on keeping improving and taking this club forward."
Maguire’s performances earlier this season attracted criticism on social media but the England defender said that he pays little attention to what is said online. "Don’t go on it, don’t read it," he said.
Keane also suggested that Solskjaer could pay the ultimate price and lose his job due being let down by his players. United have failed to win any of their four home Premier League matches at the start of the season and currently sit 15th in the table.
“Roy has always been outspoken," Solskjaer said in response. "I'm very glad I have the players we've got here.
“We've got different jobs and Roy’s job is to give his opinion and I always listen to Roy but we always move on here with a great group of players, a strong group of players, and I'm sure we'll see a response.”
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