{"id":294391,"date":"2023-10-11T22:25:38","date_gmt":"2023-10-11T22:25:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allmysportsnews.com\/?p=294391"},"modified":"2023-10-11T22:25:38","modified_gmt":"2023-10-11T22:25:38","slug":"harry-maguire-insists-he-is-mentally-strong-after-scotland-abuse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allmysportsnews.com\/soccer\/harry-maguire-insists-he-is-mentally-strong-after-scotland-abuse\/","title":{"rendered":"Harry Maguire insists he is 'mentally strong' after Scotland abuse"},"content":{"rendered":"
Even someone with Harry Maguire\u2019s broad shoulders can do with support from nearest and dearest when it feels like the whole world is lined up to have a go.<\/p>\n
It was no surprise England manager Gareth Southgate went into bat for his beleaguered defender after an own goal against Scotland last month produced new levels of ridicule and abuse.<\/p>\n
More eye-catching was Zoe Maguire posting an understandably heartfelt message backing her son. \u2018The level of negative and abusive comments which my son is receiving from some fans, pundits and the media is disgraceful and totally unacceptable,\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n
This week the Manchester United centre back is back on the international tightrope. A key part of England\u2019s success at the last three international tournaments, he is nonetheless aware that any errors against Australia on Friday or Italy on Tuesday could lead to another pile-on.<\/p>\n
David Beckham, no stranger to being bashed on a national level after his red card against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup, has dialled in with his support and while Maguire says he didn\u2019t need his mother\u2019s public intervention, he seems proud that she did so.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Harry Maguire was ridiculed and abused following his own goal against Scotland last month<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
England manager Gareth Southgate came to Maguire’s defence following the latest criticism<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Maguire’s mum Zoe posted a message backing her son, who has insisted he is mentally strong<\/p>\n
Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n
\u2018If she felt like that and wanted to do it, then I fully support her,\u2019 he says. \u2018My mum has been a big part of my career and someone I go to for support. She was in the stands in the Scotland game and probably felt affected by it and annoyed by it.<\/p>\n
\u2018She is more worried about myself but I reiterate to her that I am all good and strong mentally and I can deal with it. It probably affects my family more than myself because they worry for me and how I\u2019m dealing with it. I tell her all the time I\u2019m good.\u2019 A call from Beckham a couple of days after the Scotland experience was particularly welcome in making Maguire realise he\u2019s not alone after a year in which the 30-year-old has lost his regular place and captaincy of United.<\/p>\n
\u2018It was amazing to speak to him and for him to get his message across. It put a big smile on my face, I would say,\u2019 explains Maguire. \u2018I had watched his (Netflix) documentary and it was really inspiring to me. He\u2019s a role model to me, someone I looked up to and watched when I was a young boy. I don\u2019t want to go too much into our conversation but the main thing he did was remind me of the career I\u2019ve had to date and all the big moments.<\/p>\n
\u2018When you\u2019re going through tough moments you\u2019ve got to go through past experiences and past memories. Every career is so up and down, especially when you reach what I\u2019ve reached, in terms of being the captain of the biggest club in the world for three-and-a-half years.<\/p>\n
\u2018He\u2019s been in that position and knows what it\u2019s like. Obviously having watched the documentary I couldn\u2019t believe how much he went through at the time. Gary Neville speaks about how resilient he is as a person. It showed how classy David is to reach out to me. It was something I really appreciate. It was touching really.\u2019<\/p>\n
Maguire\u2019s stoicism is admirable. He must hope his winning assist against Brentford last Saturday proves a turning point, though he\u2019s also aware if he loses his place at Old Trafford again when others return from injury, a January move will be necessary to keep his England spot.<\/p>\n
Of course, there is also a bigger picture out there. Last Tuesday was designated World Mental Health Day and part of the focus nowadays is the role social media plays in villainising people. Maguire, who has had to deal with boos from his own fans and mocking cheers from the opposition, has his own way of dealing with Twitter and other outlets.<\/p>\n
\u2018I don\u2019t read anything to be honest,\u2019 he reveals. \u2018I know social media is a big part of the world nowadays and of course it will impact a lot of players, younger ones especially, but the main advice would be not to read it, come off it and speak to the people who are close to you.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Maguire thanked David Beckham after the England legend called him after the Scotland game<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Beckham had faced significant abuse following his red card at the 1998 FIFA World Cup<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Maguire will be hoping to start for the Three Lions against Australia and Italy this week<\/p>\n
\u2018You need to keep the bubble within your team strong when the spotlight is on. We speak about it at Manchester United. I am not going to sit here and say I don\u2019t see anything. Of course, I see things. I post on my social media myself. But I come off and I don\u2019t flick though the comments.\u2019<\/p>\n
If Southgate clearly has his back and rates him as a footballer, United boss Erik ten Hag is less sure Maguire fits into his system at United. On occasions he\u2019s shifted left back Luke Shaw into the middle rather than give the specialist a chance.<\/p>\n
\u2018There are a lot of differences between Gareth and Erik,\u2019 Maguire adds. \u2018They have different styles and different ways they both manage. I wouldn\u2019t say there is too much that is similar.\u2019<\/p>\n
It’s All Kicking Off\u00a0is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, launching with a preview show today and every week this season.<\/span><\/p>\n It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify<\/span><\/p>\n Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n