Harry Maguire reveals he sent private message to Man Utd team-mate Joshua Zirkzee after fans’ ironic cheers vs Newcastle

HARRY MAGUIRE has revealed he sent Joshua Zirkzee a message after he was sarcastically cheered off the pitch against Newcastle. Manchester United were beaten 2-0 by the Toon in the final match of 2024, with Ruben Amorim substituting the Dutch striker just 33 minutes into the match. GettyJoshua Zirkzee was subbed off to sarcastic applause and then briefly stormed down the tunnel[/caption] ReutersHarry Maguire has supported Zirkzee through his tough time[/caption] The change was met by an applause that mocked Zirkzee and he immediately stormed down the tunnel before re-emerging a few minutes later. Maguire has had similar low points during his time at United – from being slammed for poor performances to getting stripped of the captaincy under Erik ten Hag. Zirkzee has impressed in matches since the incident and his team-mate has helped him. Maguire said: “I sent him a message privately after the game. “Josh is a good player and you don’t play for this club if you are not a good player. “He has got to bring that belief and that confidence out of himself. “In football, there is always another game and a next opportunity. “Josh came on against Arsenal and really changed the game for us and to score that winning penalty probably gave him a lot of confidence and belief that he belongs at this football club. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS “The fans have been brilliant with him. We have amazing fans that stick with us through thick and thin. When times are tough they really get behind you and support you. “I have felt that and I am sure Josh would have been feeling that over the recent weeks. “But it is not really about individuals, it is about the team. We are disappointed as a team. “We want to get higher in the Premier League and be challenging at the top end of it. “But this season, ultimately, we have not been good enough.” Zirkzee has been linked with leaving Man Utd for Juventus but it appears he will stay at the Red Devils until at least the end of the season. Man Utd squad transfer verdict SunSport gives its verdict on what Man Utd stars should stay or go in the first phase of Ruben Amorim's squad rebuild: Andre Onana – Stay Despite being guilty of some erratic performances, Andre Onana remains a world-class goalkeeper and United would struggle to find better in the market. The defence has begun to look more solid in recent weeks now Amorim has had time to coach the structure into the team, and hopefully, that will be converted into clean sheets going forward. Noussair Mazraoui – Stay The best signing from the summer window so far, Noussair Mazraoui has proven to be everything Man Utd needed and more. Versatile, reliable and passionate no matter whether he plays at wing-back or centre-back, it is a no-brainer to keep the Moroccan. Leny Yoro – Stay After a pre-season injury, Leny Yoro has taken some time to bed in but he has shown some superb moments in a Man Utd shirt already like his lung-busting run to block a Liverpool shot in the 2-2 draw at Anfield earlier this month. At the age of 19 he will only get better and while too much expectation should not be thrust on him just yet, the early signs suggest he could be a mainstay in defence for years to come. Harry Maguire – Go The last time we did this list Harry Maguire was one of our main defensive options to be sold, but since Amorim has come with the back three the England international has barely put a foot wrong. The issue with Maguire is that while he is perfectly suited to a back three, he will be 32 in the summer and has just one year left on his contract, so if a serious offer comes in he should regrettably be sold. Matthijs de Ligt – Stay Matthijs de Ligt has been very hit or miss since arriving in the summer. Capable of heroic last-ditch tackles like he did at Arsenal and also capable of some very silly passages of play like his handball against Liverpool. In many ways, the Dutchman seems like a younger version of Maguire and given some more time to bed in he should improve even more. Lisandro Martinez – Stay Has really started to grow into the Amorim system in recent games after a very sticky patch of form. He is one of the team’s best progressive passers in the build-up phase and has the dogged mentality this team will need to improve and claw its way up the table. Luke Shaw – Go It’s been said that one of the best abilities is availability, and that rings incredibly true for Luke Shaw. World class on his day and is clearly still capable of finding those levels, as seen at less than full fitness with England at the Euros. But he is simply not available often enough to warrant keeping. Tyrell Malacia – Go Tyrell Malacia is still recovering his match sharpness from his two-year injury layoff, so it

Jan 22, 2025 - 18:45
 0
Harry Maguire reveals he sent private message to Man Utd team-mate Joshua Zirkzee after fans’ ironic cheers vs Newcastle

HARRY MAGUIRE has revealed he sent Joshua Zirkzee a message after he was sarcastically cheered off the pitch against Newcastle.

Manchester United were beaten 2-0 by the Toon in the final match of 2024, with Ruben Amorim substituting the Dutch striker just 33 minutes into the match.

Joshua Zirkzee of Manchester United leaves the field.
Getty
Joshua Zirkzee was subbed off to sarcastic applause and then briefly stormed down the tunnel[/caption]
Harry Maguire of Manchester United at a press conference.
Reuters
Harry Maguire has supported Zirkzee through his tough time[/caption]

The change was met by an applause that mocked Zirkzee and he immediately stormed down the tunnel before re-emerging a few minutes later.

Maguire has had similar low points during his time at United – from being slammed for poor performances to getting stripped of the captaincy under Erik ten Hag.

Zirkzee has impressed in matches since the incident and his team-mate has helped him.

Maguire said: “I sent him a message privately after the game.

“Josh is a good player and you don’t play for this club if you are not a good player.

“He has got to bring that belief and that confidence out of himself.

“In football, there is always another game and a next opportunity.

“Josh came on against Arsenal and really changed the game for us and to score that winning penalty probably gave him a lot of confidence and belief that he belongs at this football club.

JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS Joshua Zirkee's 2024-25 Manchester United season statistics.

“The fans have been brilliant with him. We have amazing fans that stick with us through thick and thin. When times are tough they really get behind you and support you.

“I have felt that and I am sure Josh would have been feeling that over the recent weeks.

“But it is not really about individuals, it is about the team. We are disappointed as a team.

“We want to get higher in the Premier League and be challenging at the top end of it.

“But this season, ultimately, we have not been good enough.”

Zirkzee has been linked with leaving Man Utd for Juventus but it appears he will stay at the Red Devils until at least the end of the season.

Man Utd squad transfer verdict

SunSport gives its verdict on what Man Utd stars should stay or go in the first phase of Ruben Amorim's squad rebuild:

Andre Onana – Stay

Despite being guilty of some erratic performances, Andre Onana remains a world-class goalkeeper and United would struggle to find better in the market.

The defence has begun to look more solid in recent weeks now Amorim has had time to coach the structure into the team, and hopefully, that will be converted into clean sheets going forward.

Noussair Mazraoui – Stay

The best signing from the summer window so far, Noussair Mazraoui has proven to be everything Man Utd needed and more.

Versatile, reliable and passionate no matter whether he plays at wing-back or centre-back, it is a no-brainer to keep the Moroccan.

Leny Yoro – Stay

After a pre-season injury, Leny Yoro has taken some time to bed in but he has shown some superb moments in a Man Utd shirt already like his lung-busting run to block a Liverpool shot in the 2-2 draw at Anfield earlier this month.

At the age of 19 he will only get better and while too much expectation should not be thrust on him just yet, the early signs suggest he could be a mainstay in defence for years to come.

Harry Maguire – Go

The last time we did this list Harry Maguire was one of our main defensive options to be sold, but since Amorim has come with the back three the England international has barely put a foot wrong.

The issue with Maguire is that while he is perfectly suited to a back three, he will be 32 in the summer and has just one year left on his contract, so if a serious offer comes in he should regrettably be sold.

Matthijs de Ligt – Stay

Matthijs de Ligt has been very hit or miss since arriving in the summer. Capable of heroic last-ditch tackles like he did at Arsenal and also capable of some very silly passages of play like his handball against Liverpool.

In many ways, the Dutchman seems like a younger version of Maguire and given some more time to bed in he should improve even more.

Lisandro Martinez – Stay

Has really started to grow into the Amorim system in recent games after a very sticky patch of form.

He is one of the team’s best progressive passers in the build-up phase and has the dogged mentality this team will need to improve and claw its way up the table.

Luke Shaw – Go

It’s been said that one of the best abilities is availability, and that rings incredibly true for Luke Shaw.

World class on his day and is clearly still capable of finding those levels, as seen at less than full fitness with England at the Euros. But he is simply not available often enough to warrant keeping.

Tyrell Malacia – Go

Tyrell Malacia is still recovering his match sharpness from his two-year injury layoff, so it is a bit harsh to make a verdict on him so soon.

The current concern is that United will need to aggressively recruit specialist left wing-backs in the summer, and Malacia so far has not looked totally comfortable playing there.

Manuel Ugarte – Stay

Question marks were being raised about him after his first few games. But under Amorim, Manuel Ugarte has once again become the lynchpin of his midfield.

He knows the system inside out and is one of the Premier League’s most proficient ball winners. It would be madness to consider his sale next summer.

Kobbie Mainoo – Stay

Despite reports that Chelsea and Bayern Munich want to sign the 19-year-old, Kobbie Mainoo should be one of the few genuinely untouchable stars at the club and his contract situation needs sorting ASAP.

He has quality and aspects to his game not possessed by many other midfielders, and with improvements to the stars around him, he and Ugarte should be able to form an effective partnership for many years to come.

Casemiro – Go

Casemiro unfortunately seemed to lose his legs going into his second season at Man Utd. And with the 3-4-3 system demanding even more running from him, it is clear he simply does not fit the bill for what the club need going forward.

It would also help the club’s financial goals to see him sold due to his massive £375,000-a-week wages being taken off the books.

Bruno Fernandes – Stay

The club captain, Bruno Fernandes has faced a lot of criticism since taking the armband for his erratic decisions and losing his temper.

Yet he remains the best player in the squad by some distance and shows the mentality the squad needs to improve. Besides it’s not like United’s most famous captain of the Premier League era, Roy Keane, was exactly cool-headed.

Antony – Go

There’s a definite case to argue that Antony may be the worst pound-for-pound signing in Premier League history, with games too often passing him by and lacking quality when he is involved.

That being said, he has improved in a number of brief cameos when featuring as a wing-back under Amorim. But unless there is a plan for him to learn the position and become a specialist he should be moved on.

Marcus Rashford – Go

It was not supposed to end like this. Once the darling of Old Trafford and Carrington, Marcus Rashford’s comments admitting he wanted a new challenge were probably the final nail in the coffin for his Man Utd future.

There is a classy player in there if he can find the motivation to love his football again. A sale to a rival should be ruled out for fear of exactly that, while a sale overseas should be targeted and pushed by the club.

Amad Diallo – Stay

Has taken a real liking to his role as either the right No.10 in the 3-4-3 or as the right wing-back.

Amad Diallo has been one of the team’s best players this season and was rewarded with a new deal as a result.

Alejandro Garnacho – Go

Arguably the trickiest star on the list, Alejandro Garnacho has bags of raw talent to elevate him to being world-class. But recent off-field issues and poor form have doubt cast on his future.

If, as reports suggest, a major bid of £60m from the likes of Napoli comes in there will be a tough decision to make. Though it may be the financial situation of the club which ultimately tips the scale.

Joshua Zirkzee – Go

Joshua Zirkzee has certainly been hit-and-miss at United so far. He has had some games and moments where he has looked very impressive, and others where he is simply not good enough.

He has a very unique profile which makes him top drawer in the right system, it is just United will probably never play the right way for him to truly excel.

Read our verdict on the full Man Utd squad here.

What's Your Reaction?

like

dislike

love

funny

angry

sad

wow