Harry Maguire has sent a demand to Leny Yoro and Luke Shaw ahead of Manchester United’s opening day clash against Arsenal.
After a five-match pre-season tour that took them to Sweden, the United States, and back to Old Trafford, Manchester United are primed for the start of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
Ruben Amorim’s men come into the campaign unbeaten, securing wins over West Ham and Bournemouth while earning draws against Leeds United, Everton, and Fiorentina.
All eyes are now on a mouthwatering curtain-raiser against Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday, 17 August; a contest set to feature notable debuts and no shortage of storylines.
United will need to be at their very best to beat Mikel Arteta’s side and Harry Maguire has sent a demand to his fellow defenders ahead of the new campaign.
Maguire sends aggressive demand to fellow United defenders
United’s new formation and shape has recieved plenty of criticism since Amorim took charge at Old Trafford and it has often been highlighted that the two-man midfield can be overrun.
To combat that, Amorim wants his wide centre-backs to be extremely aggressive out of possession and to feel comfortable stepping into that midfield line to press, as there is enough cover for them behind.
Maguire himself has explained how that is much more difficult in a back four, but when playing with three central defenders, it should be something the outside centre-backs do regularly.
“I think that [stepping into midfield to press] when you play in a back four is probably the hardest decision, especially for a centre-back,” Maguire told Rio Ferdinand earlier this week.
“You want to go and nail someone, but you don’t want to leave it [big spaces] behind you.
“But as a back three, you should really feel comfortable in doing that, especially the outside ones. Myself, in the middle, I don’t want to be jumping in all the time and leaving big gaps.
“But the outside ones should have licence to be jump in and be aggressive to everything, anything in that No.10 role.”
Shaw and Yoro must be aggressive in stepping up
United have several players who can perform that role as the outside centre-back and it is likely that Luke Shaw and Leny Yoro are the ones to start the game against Arsenal.
Yoro especially has shown that he has the ability to be aggressive in those moments and it has helped United when those two players are consistently stepping when the ball is played into those spaces on their side.
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But when United’s defenders do not step into those areas, it usually impacts the overall team performance and so it is a crucial part of Amorim’s plans.
This season, it will need to be much more consistent in order for United to improve and from Maguire’s comments, it is clear that the squad know how important it is.
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