Mum of Sheffield's Harry Maguire launches attack on 'disgraceful' criticism

The under-fire Manchester United defender dismissed the reception he received at Hampden Park during England’s 3-1 friendly win over Scotland but manager Gareth Southgate said it was “ridiculous” and “a joke”.

Now Maguire’s mum Zoe Maguire-Wilkinson has waded in.

“As a mum seeing the level of negative and abusive comments in which my son is receiving from some fans, pundits and the media is disgraceful and totally unacceptable to any walk of life never mind someone who works his socks off for club and country,” she wrote on Instagram.

“I was there in the stand as usual, it’s not acceptable what’s been created, over nothing. I understand that in the football world there are ups and downs, positives and negatives but what Harry receives has gone far beyond ‘football’.

“For me seeing him go through what he’s going through is not OK. I would hate to have to see any other parents or players go through this in the future, especially the young boys and girls breaking through the ranks today.

“Harry has a massive heart and it’s a good job he’s mentally strong and can handle it as others may not be able too. I wish this sort of abuse on nobody!”

Little more than two years ago, the centre-back was an ever-present for United and earned a place in the Euros team of the tournament after helping Southgate’s side reach the final.

But a drop in form and club game time, including being replaced as captain at Old Trafford, has led pressure and criticism to ratchet up on Maguire, which culminated in every pass Maguire made on Tuesday being met by an ironic cheer after he was brought on as a half-time substitute – where he scored an unfortunate own goal.

“It pretty much takes the pressure away from my team-mates and puts it all on myself. It makes them play better, for sure,” said Maguire after the game.

“It is a little bit of banter and it is a hostile environment, coming away to Scotland.

“I would not say I am a person who struggles with pressure mentally. I have been through a lot in the last couple of years and I have been Manchester United captain for nearly four years.

“You take a huge lot of responsibility and everything that comes with it and that is a lot of bad as well as good.”

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, who briefly worked with Maguire at Leicester before he left for Old Trafford in the summer of 2019, said the root of the issue of abuse was from United fans.

“I find it a real shame. He’s a good guy, he is obviously a top-class player and the focus and noise around him sadly has probably been created by his own club supporters and that has spilled out onto other supporters.

“It’s sad where it was created from. He’s tough, he’s mentally strong and he will prove throughout the rest of his career he’s a very good player.

“I know having worked with him if you need someone by your side when it’s tough you’d want him beside you.

“You have to have a resilience about you to succeed at the top level in a game with so many opinions.

“It’s the world we are in. You have to ignore the noise, you have to take yourself away from that otherwise it becomes a challenge for you.”