Sitting down with Harry Maguire for one of his first interviews of the season, I found a player who was reflective but also excited about the future and what's to come. Maguire is going into his eighth season at Manchester United and has experienced almost every emotion during his time at the club, like the short highs under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the polarising Erik ten Hag period or the ultimately tumultuous time of Ruben Amorim. However, despite the collective or individual woes over the years, Maguire remains and revels every time in his importance to this squad - which perhaps makes the journey even sweeter.
"To play for this club for one would have been a dream come true when I was a young kid, so to be here going into my eighth season, it's something I'm really proud of," Maguire said. "It's not about me, but at this stage of my career, I want to be part of a successful team and a team that wins. That's got to be the aim for all the boys this season - we want to be competitive right until the end of the season in every competition." So with days to go ahead of the 2026/27 season, that is the question - can this Manchester United team compete for the title amongst a league full of change?
Maguire reflected: "We want to improve on last season. Everyone wants to win the Premier League, of course that is going to be our aim, that's what this club demands. We have the belief we can be really competitive and we can beat anyone on our day.
It's going to be an exciting season." Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Having spent a few days around the team in Dublin last week, it is clear there is a comradery and closeness. It would perhaps be a valid argument that the resetting of the Man Utd changing room culture goes back to Amorim, but nevertheless the squad are benefitting from that having had a successful first six-month spell under Michael Carrick. For Maguire, he has seen different iterations of Manchester United over the years and he agreed to the notion this squad in particular shares a tight bond.
"During my time at the club, we've had some close groups - no doubt this is one of the closest," Maguire said. "Spending time together and winning football matches brings teams closer. "Losing that Europa League final, finishing 15th to finishing third and putting the club back in the Champions League, it was a good season but we can't stop here." There is a certain determination and steel in which Maguire speaks.
It could be down to maximising the final years of his career or it could be because he feels the club are close to achieving more silverware. However, it seems unlikely Man Utd can do that without further reinforcements in the transfer window. It is clear they are short at left-back and arguably in midfield with Mason Mount and Manuel Ugarte both injured.
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