Harry Maguire on Benjamin Sesko, social media and Manchester United positivity

'He is huge' - Harry Maguire on Benjamin Sesko, social media and Manchester United positivity

Harry Maguire spoke about Man United's new signings, the mood in the dressing room and the new leadership group.

Maguire visited a Manchester United Foundation event on Wednesday. (Image: Manchester United)

Harry Maguire feels comfortable in his own skin again following a turbulent chapter of his career at Manchester United.

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Maguire was once booed by 'United fans' during a pre-season friendly at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Now his name is sung loudly by the Stretford End when he emerges to warm up on the touchline.

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The 32-year-old's redemption arc has put him on the path to cult hero status in Manchester and children at Stretford High School were delighted to see him at an event on Wednesday.

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Maguire visited a multi-sports holiday camp, aimed at children in areas of social deprivation and low-income households, to kick a ball with young fans and inspire the next generation.

By the time of Maguire's appearance, the dust had settled on the Arsenal defeat and he said: "It's disappointment in the end because this club demands winning football matches. And when you play for this club, you should never get the feeling of being happy after a game if you don't win.

"The first feeling, especially a couple of days after, is disappointment because we're sat at the table with zero points and we know it should be more. However, you can look at the pluses: the performance was a lot better, a lot more intensity and we actually deserved to get something from the game. There are two sides of it, but like I said, the gut feeling inside is disappointment."

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United were unfortunate to lose against Arsenal and the performance boded well for 2025/2026. "I think last year we just weren't as big a threat going forward as we should have been for this club," said Maguire.

"This club demands players who create chances, score goals and that's what it's done throughout its history. So, I think Brian [Mbeumo] and Matheus [Cunha] coming in, Sesko coming off the bench, these are players who have proven that they're going to score goals and create chances.

"I think last year there was some good performance against Tottenham and I remember going to Arsenal in the cup and playing with 10 men throughout it all, and we were very comfortable in the game. Going forward in that game, again, we just didn't create as much as we'd like. So, hopefully that's the things to come this season, should I say, in terms of that we're creating and scoring a lot more goals."

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Maguire discussed United's new signings. (Image: Manchester United)

Maguire discussed United's new signings, adding: "Like I said, first and foremost, they're going to be a threat. I think when you play against them as an opposition defender, you're not going to have an easy afternoon.

"You're always going to be aware because you know that in one moment Matheus can score from anywhere or he can produce that little bit of magic, or Bryan can, like I say, he can score at the back post or he can curl one in.

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"And then Benjamin [Sesko] is just a huge... He's obviously got great physical attributes and he's quick and he's strong and he's tall. He's very good in the air, attacking crosses and his movement in the box is really good. I think they're going to create and score goals, and that's what this club demands."

Ruben Amorim appointed a new six-man leadership group this summer, consisting of Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui and Tom Heaton.

Amorim feels strongly about having a group of players who have an influence on the dressing room, and the group should also reduce the workload on Fernandes' shoulders.

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"I think the manager obviously wanted a group of players that he can speak to instead of piling it all on Bruno all the time," said Maguire. "Maybe taking a little bit of weight off his shoulders as well in terms of he can lean on us for decisions and things.

"The manager likes a group of players, he's picked his group and it doesn't mean that anyone outside of that group of players isn't important to the manager or isn't seen as a leader because there are numerous leaders who aren't in that leadership group. It's just a small group.

"But if I'm being honest, Bruno is still the captain of the club. He's in charge of the players, but we'll give him a big support, which to be honest, we did and I did before that. So, I think it's probably getting made out a little bit more than what it actually is.

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"It's just a group where we can feed things through to the staff and the management and look after the club in general and give Bruno a little bit of weight off his shoulders."

Maguire was stripped of the armband in the summer of 2023. (Image: Manchester United)

Maguire continued: "I think instead of everyone always going to Bruno and giving Bruno the problems and then he has to feed them through, I think he can lead off the other six players as well.

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"Also, the six who he's chosen have got to obviously drive the standards in training day in, day out. It's an experienced group of people, but like I said, I think it is probably getting looked into a little bit too much.

"I think as a squad of 25, we've all got to be leaders in there. To play for this club, you've got to be a big personality and you've got to be your own leader in your own way. So, yes, it's a group, but like I say, it doesn't make anyone more important than others."

Maguire was named on the bench against Arsenal last weekend and Matthijs de Ligt started in the centre of the back-three. Maguire agreed that reacting professionally to selection decisions is part of his role.

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"I think I've always done that throughout my career," he said. "It's not something just because I'm in this leadership group that I'll start to do now. I'm sure there's going to be many games I play this season and I'm going to be playing a lot of games from the start. I know that.

"The manager has got a lot of tough choices now. I think the squad is really competitive, really good competition, good high-level players in each position. Yes, me and Matthijs have been playing that central role, but also we can play either side in the back three as well. I've proven that.

"I've done that for England and Matthijs has done that numerous times for the Netherlands as well. No, there's competition for places all over the pitch and I think that's healthy in the squad."

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Amorim has banished the 'bomb squad'. The dressing room mood has improved and sources have admitted Amorim has created a feeling of 'us against them' by excluding some big names.

Maguire said: "It's a great feeling in the dressing room. I think it was nice, if I'm being honest, to just feel like it was a bit of a fresh start after last season. Last season was so tough to play in there.

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"The situation that we were in, February, March time, we've got nothing to play for. It was a real tough, apart from the Europa League obviously and everyone was focusing on that.

"But then when you get beat in the Premier League, it still piles down on you. It was a tough situation for the manager to come into and all his staff because he was really preparing for the Europa League and we never had a settled team in the Premier League.

"I think this season you're going to see a lot more competitiveness from us in the Premier League. But listen, the camp is always positive going into a season when you play for this club.

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"The results determine how it goes, and that's what we need to drive and maintain and make sure that it stays positive throughout because we want to get good results and good performances."

Maguire came on from the bench against Arsenal. (Image: 2025 James Gill - Danehouse)

Maguire has entered the autumn of his career and is well-positioned to offer advice. United received intense criticism last season and Maguire would advise his younger colleagues to ignore social media.

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"I'm sure they'd have been getting slaughtered left, right and centre, if I'm being honest," responded Maguire when asked about social media abuse last season. "I hope they don't go on and read the comments when they've had a bad game, or read the direct messages on Instagram.

"I hope the players stay away and they learn that they don't need to be told by other people whether they're doing right or wrong. As a footballer, you know if you're playing well and you know if you're doing things right and if you make a mistake, you know if you've made a mistake.

"So, you don't need to go on and get clarification from other people. We know where social media is. It's a tough place sometimes, but then also it does have its positives that you can connect in a positive way and see day-to-day things. It can be good and it can be bad."

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Did Maguire ever come to a point where he had to switch off completely? "No, not really," he replied. "I've always been quite good at handling criticism or whatever. It doesn't really get to me or bother me too much.

"I've been mentally strong throughout it all, but I'm only speaking advice now I'm 32. I'm giving these younger lads experience that they are going to go through sticky times at this club, no matter how good it is.

"I'm sure the likes of David Beckham and Wayne Rooney went through it, and they are world-class players. Wayne's one of the best players to play for England and this club, and he had so much abuse.

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"You're going to get it. You've just got to find the best way of dealing with it. There's a lot of club and support around them now and rightly so."

In a recent interview with Rio Ferdinand, Maguire said that some social media abuse is dished out by people who just want to see United fail. "Yes, I do believe that a lot of the social media laughing and joking and the memes and things like that obviously are rival fans," he said.

"I'm not saying it's just Manchester United players who get it because there will be other players who get it. It's other top clubs as well. It's part and parcel of playing for this club. It's one of the best clubs in the world and you get a lot of spotlight on you, and you've got to learn to deal with it."

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Maguire scored one of the most memorable Old Trafford goals against Lyon last season. (Image: 2025 James Gill - Danehouse)

Maguire showed remarkable mental strength to overcome a difficult period. In his own words, he is in a "better place" now. His relationship with supporters has been salvaged and he is keen to savour fan events, like at Stretford High School, as he enters the final year of his contract.

"When I joined this club, I noticed straight away that you have a huge responsibility on the pitch, but you also have a massive responsibility off the pitch and this club has a worldwide fan base," he said.

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"It's incredible. You don't realise it until you're actually in it, the fan base, when you go on tours, when you go to Malaysia and India and when you come to places like this, there's so many kids out there, they're all in Man United kits. After the season we had last year as well, our fans just stick with us.

"We lost the Europa League final against Spurs, awful season for ourselves and then we go and play Villa at home against Old Trafford and it was packed out, the atmosphere was unbelievable.

"We got clapped off the pitch at the end of the game. It just doesn't happen at other clubs and the fans at this club have been incredible with us and now I feel like we're on a bit of a start of a journey with everything in place to take this club back to where it should be and it's one that I'm looking forward to be part of."

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Maguire continued: "It's amazing to be here with the kids. When you turn up and you see them chanting your name and just putting a big smile on their face, the energy is infectious.

"And I take some of this energy and take it back to the training ground. It’s nice in terms of that because when you come here, like I say, they're having fun, but they're working hard and they're out in the fresh air.

"It's really good for them physically, mentally, playing with their friends, socialising. So, it's great to see them all playing with a big smile on their face."

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Maguire has been playing with a smile on his own face again in the last 18 months.

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