Fans branded Maguire a ‘teacher’s pet’, and have asked for the captain’s armband to be handed to Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United fans are somewhat angry with Harry Maguire’s reaction to Anthony Martial’s sending off. Sections of the Old Trafford faithful have suggested Maguire did not stick up for his teammates enough.
United were trailing 2-1 at home to Spurs when Martial clashed with Erik Lamela in an off-the-ball incident. Shortly before a corner was swung into the box, Lamela put his arm up to Martial’s face, before the Frenchman retaliated – leading to his dismissal.
What is going on!? 🤯
Eric Lamela puts his arm to Anthony Martial's face in the box before the Frenchman retaliates and is sent off! 😲🟥
Have #THFC got away with one there?
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Sky’s on-field footage has since surfaced online, in which you can clearly hear the dialogue between players. It is this which led Manchester United fans to criticise Harry Maguire’s handling of the incident.
https://twitter.com/ManUnitedZone_/status/1313577175602393088?s=20
As soon as the red card was issued to Martial, Marcus Rashford interjected with: “Nothing for that elbow? It’s the same!”
Maguire replied: “It’s not violent conduct, they’ve checked.”
Rashford: “He’s elbowed him!”
Maguire: “They’ve checked it and said it’s not.”
Rashford: “How’s it not? How?”
Martial’s red card proved just to be the tip of the iceberg for Man Utd. After the Frenchman’s dismissal, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side shipped another four goals, going down 6-1 at the final whistle.
Maguire and the rest of the United defence were heavily criticised for their display, in particular for the manner in which Tanguy Ndombele equalised for Spurs.
But it is Maguire’s reaction to one of his teammates being shown a debatable red card that has caused the most controversy among the Old Trafford faithful.
One Twitter user commented: “If you love this club, give the armband to Bruno (Fernandes).”
This just makes me miss Roy Keane! Embarrassing reaction. Just confirms @HarryMaguire93 will never lift a trophy as United captain. No fight at all, not a winner.
— NBeevz (@NBeevz) October 6, 2020
Another said: “This just makes me miss Roy Keane! Embarrassing reaction. Just confirms @HarryMaguire93 will never lift a trophy as United captain. No fight at all, not a winner.”
Some fans have even questioned the decision to give Harry Maguire the captaincy in the first place.
Another Man Utd fan writes: “Maguire shouldn’t be captain, even before seeing this. I’d have given it Fernandes at start of season and given Rashford vice captaincy. They’re the leaders in the team.”
