Gareth Southgate slammed fans inside Wembley after Harry Maguire was booed during England’s win over Ivory Coast on Tuesday night.
Supporters could be heard booing the Manchester United captain when his name was read out ahead kick-off. The 29-year-old then received more flak during the game with another chorus of boos greeting his first touch.
The defender has endured a difficult season at Old Trafford, with his place in the side having been questioned by supporters as he’s struggled to replicate the form he showed for England during last summer’s run to the Euro 2020 final. The backlash looked to have carried over to Wembley on Tuesday as Maguire found himself being booed during the 3-0 win over Ivory Coast.
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The United skipper though played a big part in England’s second goal of the night, and won praise from some fans online for his pass to Ollie Watkins in the build-up to Raheem Sterling scoring. And having been backed by Southgate ahead of the game, the England boss turned on those supporters who booed Maguire.
"I thought the reception was a joke, an absolute joke,” Southgate said in his post-match interview. “What he's done for us, the way he's performed for England has been phenomenal. I don't get it. We're either all in this together or we're not.
“He's in an England shirt, not only should you support a player in an England shirt regardless, but when he's played at the level he has and put in the performances for us that he has, it should be total commitment behind him. I don't get that at all.
"For his performance, pretty faultless really, he stepped out from the back well, he was involved in the second as well. “We're a team, we're totally united, we recognise everyone has difficult moments, but he's a top player and he'll come through it.”
Asked whether they were real England fans, Southgate replied: "Well, they are real England fans, and I think some are influenced by whatever, I don't know whether it's social media, whether it's players that played previously who are influencing opinion... the club situation is very difficult, but he's in an England shirt.
“I remember decades ago a couple of players being booed in their England shirts and it's never been acceptable. I've never got it. Why would it make someone play better? Fans should always get behind the team."
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