Calls for Harry Maguire to be dropped from the Manchester United starting lineup have intenstified once more following the defending's role in Atletico Madrid taking the lead in Wednesday night's Champions League encounter. The Red Devils' skipper failed to deal with another attacking threat properly and allowed the host to take the lead after just seven minutes into the Champions League encounter.
Maguire was full of confidence ahead of the night's Round 16 clash after getting on the scoresheet in the win over Leeds to end United's hoodoo of failing to score from a corner in 139 attempts. However, the defender had another night to forget as his defensive frailties will bring his effectiveness under scrutiny once more.
Following a bright start from Atletico, Ralf Rangnick's men were put on the back foot when Joao Felix capitalised on slack marking from the former Leicester City man to nod home the game's opener. Renan Lodi had had sent an inch-perfect cross into the penalty area of the visitors from the left and the Portuguese attacker who was nowhere near the stature of his marker, managed to get past the Englishman and headed the ball past De Gea.
Watch:
Not the start Man Utd wanted in Madrid...
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 23, 2022
Joao Felix with an absolutely BRILLIANT header to give Atletico the lead
Ridiculous hang-time!#UCL pic.twitter.com/5he32Iyk0i
Fans subsequently expressed their full displeasure with Maguire's persistent mistakes with a several asking for a Victor Lindelof-Raphael Varane center-back pairing instead. Below are a few reactions from Twitter:
Joao Felix just sent Harry Maguire back to Sheffield with that run. Elite movement, elite finish. #UCL
— Football Tweet (@Football__Tweet) February 23, 2022
Gabriel Agbonlahor: "As much as we look at Harry Maguire, he should be looking at defenders like Thiago Silva and should still be learning from these top, top defenders."
— Vince™ (@Blue_Footy) February 23, 2022
Only Harry Maguire could make Joao Felix look like prime Andy Carroll in the air
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) February 23, 2022
Harry Maguire trying to help Manchester United stop conceding goals: #ATMMUN #UCL pic.twitter.com/YcvP5MUo3B
— Aftab (@ffsaftab) February 23, 2022
Harry Maguire, Manchester United captain, 6'4, head the size of a microwave, can't stop 5'9 Felix scoring a header. 80 million pounds.
— Mike (@MikeLUHG0) February 23, 2022
Thank you Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Hope this helps
Fair play to Harry Maguire, he put himself in a great position to get a good view of that Felix header
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) February 23, 2022
Maguire should never be letting Felix get a header that easily
— Stretford Paddock (@StretfordPaddck) February 23, 2022
Victor Lindelof should have just replaced Maguire than the coach sacrificing the right back pic.twitter.com/IqvdBagdom
— Pure Tsonga (@mdungwazi_2nd) February 23, 2022
