He’s obviously going through a terrible period of form and low confidence, and I don’t think he’s nearly as bad as the reputation he’s getting…. However that said, when he patently looks terrified any time he has the ball in our half, and has to do complete Valencia-esque about turns to avoid any semblance of a risky pass, I don’t really see the benefit of trying to “play him into form”, or protect his ego, when we’re trying to win a crucial knockout tie that will define our entire season….
If the manager is willing to drop Ronaldo, and to a much lesser extent Rashford & Pogba, then there’s surely no more undue pressure from up on high to keep playing Harry Derek* Maguire? There must be some footballing reason that us plebs can’t quantify?
* not actually his name. But it seems right, doesn’t it?