Harry Maguire on Utd v Tottenham Europa League final
14/05/2025 embargoed until 20/05/2025
Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, UK
14/05/2025 embargoed until 20/05/2025
Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, UK
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SportsTranscript
00:00You came with the finals at Man Utd, you were injured for Villarreal, missed a couple under
00:08Eric and then you were injured again for the Olympic Cup final, have you played in this
00:14next round?
00:15Yeah, I think obviously missing the Villarreal was a big one for me, captain of the club
00:21at the time and a big part of that team and maybe the result would have been different
00:26if I had been in the team, that's what I felt.
00:29Yeah and then missed last year as well again where I was playing every week under Eric
00:33and then missed the Cup final so it hurt but the lads put on a great performance so it
00:37makes it a lot better when you win, the Villarreal one hurt a lot more than the Cup final just
00:41because of the result.
00:42Has it kind of tracked your United career a little bit?
00:44Because I remember sat and watching you train before Villarreal, we were all just waiting
00:47to see whether you were going to train because at the time you were the main man, you kind
00:50of dipped a little bit and then back to being sort of the main man again.
00:54Yeah definitely at the time I was an important part of that team, we had a good team that
01:00year, we played really well, we had a good defensive record but I had a nasty ankle injury
01:04so I know there was time and talk and I was actually nowhere near fit for that final.
01:10I pushed and pushed but I was still struggling to jog never mind being able to go and play
01:14a final so looking back to that game I actually think we played pretty well in the game.
01:19We were unlucky to not win the game in an extra time but yeah it's always nice to get another
01:24opportunity against Spurs in another final and we'll be ready for it.
01:28To play in that final, to start that final, given where you were at the one stage under
01:32Eric and not really playing, what would that say about yourself and how hard you had to
01:36battle back to become the main man again?
01:39Obviously we don't know the team or what's going to happen over the next seven days or
01:45so but to be in that team would mean a lot.
01:48Every person in that dressing room should be fighting every day to be in that team because
01:53that's what football is about, you want to be in these big games, these big moments,
01:56the pressure moments and you want to play them, you want to be part of it.
02:01We know it's not going to be 11 players, it's going to be players off the bench.
02:04You're seeing against Bill Bowen, which they changed the game, who come off the bench,
02:08the three lads who come off, made a huge difference.
02:11It's a squad game but it would be really pleasing to walk out in that final and represent Manchester United.
02:17I always feel slightly sorry for you because it feels as though in times of crisis
02:21we'll send out Harry Maguire to talk about the situation.
02:26What's your assessment of this season for Manchester United?
02:31I think there's no doubt it's been really difficult.
02:33I think the last couple of months we have really, without saying too much,
02:40we've focused on Europa League in terms of the starting 11.
02:43I mean, I can't remember the last time I played 90 minutes in the Premier League to be honest.
02:47And I've played all the Europa League games.
02:52So, no, it's been frustrating.
02:54It shouldn't be like that because two months ago we should have been in a better position
02:58where we should be fighting for those Europa League positions and the Champions League positions.
03:02And that's what this club demands.
03:05So, when we found ourselves out of Carabao and the FA Cup, it really gave us an opportunity in the Europa League.
03:11And we've performed really well in it, I must say.
03:14A difficult start maybe with a couple of draws.
03:17But no, we've performed really well and we know it's not been good enough this season.
03:23It's been nowhere near good enough for this club.
03:25It's been nowhere near good enough for our standards.
03:27And next season I know we will improve.
03:30I know as players you're not trying, but when the manager comes out and says something immediately after games
03:37the way that he did on Sunday, does that sting a little bit?
03:41I think the result stings to be honest.
03:43I mean, we're at home against West Ham in a full-packed Old Trafford.
03:47But little moments decide games and I keep saying it.
03:51We've just been nowhere near good enough at defending our box and in the opponent's box this year.
03:57They change games. I mean, we go away to Bilbao and the first goal changes the game.
04:02The first 30 minutes of the performance wasn't an incredible performance.
04:06It was sloppy, but a goal changed the game.
04:08We're playing West Ham and I'm obviously sat on a bench and I'm watching the game
04:13and we're controlling the game, we're dominating the game and their first attack they go and score
04:17and it's 1-0 and then it's just difficult.
04:19The first thing we need to do coming into next season is we need to be a lot more dominant in both boxes.
04:24If we want to be successful, the goals change games and this year we've been nowhere near good enough in both boxes.
04:31Hi Harry. I want to ask you about the dignity you show.
04:35You've been a cult hero for England and you went through a really dark time here a couple of years ago.
04:42I think there was one match where the armband got passed around about three times in the function as I've called the captain.
04:49How difficult was it to keep your dignity?
04:52You never spoke either of you three or two after five.
04:55What did I tell you about yourself?
04:58I think regarding the captaincy, I think when Eric took the captaincy off me, I don't think then I really wouldn't want to be in a position
05:05to take the captaincy off someone who was coming off the pitch to be honest, so that wasn't a big deal at the time.
05:10In terms of my form, I think probably a six to twelve month period where my form wasn't as good as it has been in the previous two years, where it was excellent.
05:22I think people still talk a lot about his comeback and things like that, but it's been two years now where I've been performing at a high level.
05:31I mean last season, every game I was available I pretty much played even under Eric and I was a big blur when I couldn't miss the cup final for him.
05:42So it's been a couple of years now, I feel in a good place, I feel really comfortable at this club and with my surroundings and the pressure that's involved in it.
05:51It's an amazing club and I'm really privileged and proud to be part of it.
05:55Do you always believed there would still be these moments, you know, a major European final?
06:01Do you believe it? Even because there was a point where it looked like might leave, do you believe these would still come here?
06:06No definitely, I always believed, I always was playing for my country in major tournaments.
06:09I went to Qatar and played a big part in reaching the quarterfinal and played every minute and performed really well.
06:16Yeah, really the belief that it come from maybe at that time was playing for my country.
06:21So obviously credit to Gareth in showing his faith and trusting me during that period.
06:28But I must say I felt like I was playing really well for my country all, even through my negative times at this club.
06:35So no, it's nice to be back playing, it's nice to be back helping the team, that's the most important thing.
06:39And like you say, it's a big cup final and one that I'm looking forward to.
06:44You've played Spurs three times this season, you've lost all three.
06:48What makes you believe that this time will be different?
06:51Listen, we know that they're a good team on their day.
06:55They've suffered as well this season in the Premier League, they've had a lot of injuries like ourselves.
06:59They've not been really to find that rhythm and they've concentrated on the Europa League as well.
07:05So similar situations in terms of the league form.
07:09Yeah, they've beat us three times.
07:11I can remember, I think it was the last game under Ruben at their place.
07:16And I think we was really unlucky that day, to be honest.
07:18I think we was arguably the better team.
07:20It was a bit of a ding-dong match and they took their chances and we didn't
07:23and found ourselves a couple of goals down and chasing the game.
07:27But no, we believe in ourselves.
07:29We believe that we can beat anybody on our day.
07:31But we know this season has been no any good enough.
07:34But we've got to perform well.
07:36We've got to play well.
07:37We've got to prepare well.
07:38And we'll do the right things to enable us to give ourselves a great opportunity to win the game.
07:43I'm sure Tottenham players will be saying the same things about the season not being good.
07:47It's obviously enormous for them as well as you.
07:49How do you not feel that weight on the shoulders?
07:52Just how important this is.
07:54The truth is, what every player wants to win.
07:56And actually, everything else is bigger than just that.
07:59Yeah, of course.
08:00It's a big game.
08:01But for us, we know it's such a big game for everyone.
08:06The fans, after such a disappointing season.
08:09The club.
08:10But we go into it and take it like a normal game like we did in the semi-final against Bilbao.
08:16Wow, we prepare well every day.
08:18And when you get on that pitch, you give absolutely everything.
08:20And that's only what you can do.
08:22The result will look after itself.
08:23We've got to really look after the performance.
08:25Listen, finals are finals.
08:28You know, they can change on moments or anything.
08:31You need that little bit of luck maybe.
08:33We could perform really well on the day and get beat.
08:35Or we could perform badly and win.
08:37But for sure, we've got to make sure that we put the percentages in our favour in terms of turning up,
08:42giving absolute everything and performing on the day.
08:44I'm finding for me, there will be thousands of fans travelling over, going all kinds of weird, wonderful groups.
08:49You've had supporters sticking with the team, throwing support behind Ruben and Ruben throughout the very difficult moments you've had.
08:57I mean, how impressed have you been by that?
08:59Has it not surprised you, given what you've seen in the past?
09:02No, they've been absolutely incredible this season.
09:05It's actually, it is surprising as players, how much they are backing us.
09:09We've disappointed them far too much.
09:11We've given some good times in the Europa League and some great memories in terms of winning the derby at the Etihad and things.
09:17But, no, it's even surprised me.
09:20I know that I'd say they're the greatest fans in the world.
09:23I think this year they've proved that.
09:25It's been remarkable when we get to play in front of them even though we're not performing.
09:29And that's why I think we deserve it.
09:32They deserve it and we deserve everything we do to give them the great opportunity to go and win the cup final and give them that day out.
09:39And it's only a good day out, like you say, if we come back and win the tournament.
09:45Cheers, thank you.
09:46You're welcome.
09:48You're welcome.
09:57You're welcome.