Ruben Amorim explains reason for Harry Maguire contract talks delay as he tells Man Utd centre-back where he needs to improve despite Liverpool heroics

Maguire joined United for a then-world record fee for a defender when he signed for the Red Devils from Leicester in 2019 for £80m ($106m). He had a dream debut in a 4-0 win over Chelsea but it proved to be a first season of ups and downs. Maguire was named club captain in January 2020 and the following year played a huge role in United coming second in the Premier League and reaching the Europa League final, which he missed due to injury. He had a hapless 2021-22 season though when United finished sixth and sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. 

The centre-back then lost his place in the starting XI when Erik ten Hag took over and in the summer of 2023 he had the captaincy taken off him and given to Bruno Fernandes instead. Maguire was also subjected to torrents of social media abuse in this period. But he rose above it and fought his way back into the team under Ten Hag and then becoming a crucial player for Amorim, scoring vital goals against Lyon, Leicester and Ipswich last season. His 85th-minute header at Anfield increased his cult-hero status, prompting Amorim to say: "Harry Maguire is really important for us and was today. He is a great example, everything he has been through, a great example to every kid."

The head coach, however, was not willing to discuss whether or not the club plan to renew Maguire's contract, which expires in June. Amorim said at a press conference on Friday: "We are really happy with Harry but it is not the time to talk about that. That gives the idea that we are thinking really far away, we need to think about now. We are really happy with Harry, he is really important for us but we just need to focus on the next game."

Amorim praised Maguire and said he was ideally suited to playing in a back three. But he also challenged the defender to improve his ability on the ball. Amorim added: "It was good for him to play with three centre backs, I think he feels more comfortable. Because he plays in the centre, he does not need to go to the side so much so sometimes you help players with the way you play. Sometimes it is the opposite with some players. I am really pleased. He is not young but he can learn a lot, he can improve. 

"I think he can be so much better with the ball because he has that quality and he needs to show that. Nowadays with the set pieces that you see, the amount of men that you put in the box and every cross from the opponent - everyone is playing like that. He is a massive player for us, I am really happy but that game is in the past, that goal is in the past and now let's look forward to the present and the future."

Amorim explained that Maguire and Mason Mount have picked up knocks since the win at Anfield. It means the former England team-mates are doubts for United's game at home to Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday. The coach also declared that Lisandro Martinez is progressing well eight months after tearing his ACL but is still some way off from returning to the team. 

United have lost their last three matches at home against Brighton and Amorim stressed the importance of forgetting their win at Liverpool and recording a third consecutive victory in the Premier League. "It is going to be a very difficult game. Brighton are really fun to watch they are really good on build-up, they are really strong on transitions, in every aspect of the game," Amorim said. "They are doing well at set pieces this season so they are a team who are really complete. We need to be really smart and to face that game with a real focus on everything that we do because they are a very strong team. You can see with how they play the game. They are really intense, the quality is there.

"We use the good spirit of winning games we know that was a good weekend for us but our focus is on the next game. That is in the past and we need to understand that football changes a lot, especially this kind of club so we are not thinking about the last game, we are thinking about this game and it is going to be really hard to win."