LOS ANGELES, California — Harry Maguire has admitted that speculation over Erik ten Hag's future affected Manchester United's performance last season.
United finished eighth in the Premier League before ending a miserable campaign on a positive note by beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
A second trophy in two years was enough to keep Ten Hag in his job, but Maguire says rumours the Dutchman could be sacked had an impact on the players throughout the season.
“It was tough,” Maguire said in an interview in Los Angeles at the start of United's US tour.
“It probably hurt our performance and results a little bit throughout the season, especially when it happened over the Christmas period when we really fell apart. But you have to give the manager credit for the way he handled it.”
A report ahead of the cup final suggested Ten Hag would be sacked regardless of the result against City.
United defied the odds to win 2-1 but despite the success, Maguire says there was a subdued atmosphere at the post-match party in London as speculation continued around the manager's position.
“It was very strange,” Maguire said. “Nobody really knew what was going on. Nobody was sure.”
“If you ask the players, they'll probably tell you they don't know because nobody has a clue. It was really impressive the way he handled that week with a win against probably the best team in Europe at the moment.”
Sources told ESPN that United spoke to several other coaching candidates, including Thomas Tuchel and Roberto De Zerbi, before deciding to stick with Ten Hag.
The club have since extended his contract by a year and Maguire believes it was the right decision.
“We have shown that we can beat the best teams and we have won two trophies in two years,” said the defender.
“The first season was very good, last season was not. Last season was also difficult for Erik. There was a lot of uncertainty and the number of injuries was really abnormal and I'm pretty sure that won't happen this season. We have faith in the management team and the signings they have made are also very good.”
Maguire is back to fitness after missing the cup final and Euros with a calf injury.
The 31-year-old said missing the big game at Wembley and the European Championship was the “toughest moment of his career” but after doing extra sessions with a United coach while on holiday in Portugal, he is ready to return against Arsenal in a friendly at SoFi Stadium on Saturday.
He has been linked with a possible exit from Old Trafford this summer, but he says he wants to stay.
“Until they tell me you're for sale or we want you to leave, I want to play for this club and make it successful again,” he said.
“All I'm hearing and seeing from everyone involved is that I will be a part of this club going forward.”
