Brendan Rodgers thinks Manchester United's Harry Maguire 'has the tools' to rise above the negativity.
Maguire started for England against the Ivory Coast on Tuesday night and he was booed by the home crowd before kick-off, while noise was also heard in response to his first touch of the ball. Gareth Southgate wasn't happy with the boos after the game: "I thought the reception was a joke, an absolute joke," he said. "The way he has performed for us has been absolutely phenomenal."
The booing of Maguire has made headlines this week. The centre-back has been out of form for United this season, regularly looking devoid of confidence, and Rodgers was asked about the player ahead of Leicester's visit to Old Trafford on Saturday.
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Rodgers took over at Leicester just six months before Maguire signed for United and he backed the defender to overcome it. “My question would be what help does it do? By nature of the word supporter, you are there to support," Rodgers said.
"I was disappointed for him [Maguire]. He’s a brilliant guy. He has the tools to overcome it. You need resilience. He has the focus on him at a big club. He’s a resilient guy. Internationally, Harry has been a great player for England over these past three or four seasons.
"Maybe it's just the modern world, patience is short now. It doesn’t do a player any good. You support through the good and the bad.
“They [United] have top-class players who can change the course of the game. We have a good record against them recently. You have to play at the highest level tactically. They are playing at home so we have to be aggressive.”
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