Watch Brendan Rodgers launch amazing defence of Harry Maguire

Brendan Rodgers has delivered an incredible defence of Harry Maguire with the former Leicester City defender in the headlines for a variety of reasons.

Social media appears to have overtaken the real world with the Manchester United squad man a corner stone of Gareth Southgate’s England team.

Abuse from ‘fans’ of his own club has spread to ‘supporters’ of the England side who offer nothing in the form of encouragement to their side’s most experienced defender.

Rodgers sold Maguire from Leicester City to Manchester United but under Erik ten Hag a new look defence has been created without delivering anything better in terms of results.

Without club football Maguire barely put a foot wrong at the World Cup Finals in Qatar but it seems that only West Ham were interested in signing the defender during the summer transfer window.

Rodgers has watched his former defender become virtually a national laughing stock and wasn’t slow to back him up on a subject that he could easily have side stepped.

Question: What have you made of the focus that has been on Harry Maguire as of late?

I know Harry well, having worked with him, and I find it a real shame if I am honest. He is a good guy and is obviously a top-class player. The focus that has been around him has sadly, probably been created by his own club’s supporters and that has spilled out to other supporters. I was at the game the other night…and if you remember this is a guy who I think was in the Team of the World Cup [2018] so he is not that bad of a player. I know having worked with him that if you need someone by your side then you would want him beside you.

He is a great man and very honest in the game. I know why Gareth [Southgate] picks him and he has been fantastic for England. He has been a real soldier and leader amongst the young players that are coming through there. I find it a real shame that a guy who is a really good player and who, at the time he went into Manchester United, was probably needed to lead himself as a new player. He found himself quite quickly as Manchester United captain and I can’t speak highly enough of him. He is a fantastic man and I see the noise that goes around him and that is a real shame.

It is just said where it was created from but he is tough and mentally strong. He will prove throughout the rest of his career that he is a very good player. You don’t go from being one of the best players at the World Cup to people making fun of you and that is of course something you have to deal with as a player and sometimes as a manager as well. He will get through it.

Question: What does it say about Harry Maguire as a player that he is willing to stay at Manchester United and fight for his place?

It tells you everything about his mentality and the depth of strength that he has. There might come a point when he feels he is not getting the game time that he wants and he wants to move on and play regularly and if he does that then he will prove to be a really good player. He won’t shirk the challenge, that is for sure. He was very proud to represent Manchester United when he first went there. I know that when he left, when I was at Leicester City, there were other clubs that wanted to sign him, but that whole pre-season [2017/18]… I have health with players who are in transition in the transfer market and they can wobble etc.

This guy never did that once. He was totally committed to Leicester City and it was only towards the end, when he moved, that I looked back and thought that his behaviour was exceptional throughout that period. For me, he will continue to fight there and his behaviour as a man and his conduct, he is a great fella and a fantastic player. Hopefully, he gets to show that at Manchester United but if not then I am sure he will go and do it somewhere else.

Question: Is the ridicule Harry Maguire has received a negative part of social media?

I think so. It is a sign of the world we are in and you have to have resilience about you to succeed at the top level. When I see Harry now, and in the times I have spoken with him, I know he is pretty strong-minded. You have to ignore the noise and that is important. There is obviously a lot of noise that is generated from this game and you have to take yourself away from that. Otherwise, it can become a challenge for you. I think he just gets on with his work. He is always there to support. He is certainly getting it from Gareth and that is why he brings it in at that international level. Those really talented players do not come through unless there is experience beside them. For every young player, you need someone like Harry beside them and that is what will help them.