Vidic: ‘8/10’ Maguire needs trophies to be among the world’s best
Former Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic has claimed that Harry Maguire must “win trophies” to be seen as one of the best defenders in the world.
The 28-year-old joined Man United from Leicester City in 2019 for £80m. In the process, he became the world’s most expensive defender.
In just two years, Maguire has totted up over 100 appearances for the Red Devils across all competitions.
Top 10 English players to have won f*** all
The defender was an injury doubt heading into Euro 2020. But since returning to the team, he has shone alongside Manchester City’s John Stones.
They are set to start together once again in the semi-finals against Denmark on Wednesday evening.
Vidic has told The Athletic that Maguire is “8/10 at everything” he does for club and country:
“Maguire looks confident and comfortable, even more for his country than for Manchester United,” Vidic said.
“He’s a defender who is still improving, but if he wants to be recognised at the highest level he has to win trophies.
“When I look at Maguire I see a defender who is good at everything, 8/10 at everything. He’s not as good on the ball or as fast as Rio Ferdinand was for example, and he doesn’t tackle or head like I did, but he has quality across his game.
“He’s fast enough, he’s strong enough, he can jump and play the ball, his positioning is fine.”
Vidic has also suggested that he is “getting used” to seeing England reach the latter stages of major tournaments:
“England have now reached the semi-finals of their past two major tournaments. I’m getting used to seeing England at this stage now, comfortable at the highest level. This wasn’t always so.
“At Manchester United, I used to joke with my England team-mates that they were always expected to do well but never did, despite having all those great players. We’d joke before the tournaments but not after, when England were knocked out again.
“That was not a time for laughing. And I couldn’t say too much because I was not returning with a World Cup winner’s medal or European champion medal in my pocket from playing with Serbia.
“Winning trophies is what the best players do and trophies improve players. At United, we did not win a trophy for a couple of years before 2006. The players were really nervous until we won the League Cup. They said, “We have to win”.
“Once we did win, the confidence and energy changed. We relaxed; we knew how to win. We didn’t stop winning: League Cup in 2006, Premier League in 2007, 2008 and 2009, Champions League and World Club Cup in 2008. Those players could now perform in the biggest matches because they were used to it.
“We grew in all these different ways and England can do the same.”
