Harry Maguire says he's not yet thought about his Manchester United future but the club captain admits it's difficult not leading his side out every week.
Maguire started on Thursday as United beat Real Betis 1-0 in the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie, Marcus Rashford scored the only goal in Seville as Erik ten Hag's side secured a 5-1 aggregate win over their Spanish opposition.
It was the centre-back's 11th start of the season and just his sixth since returning from World Cup duties with England. That lack of game-time and the seemingly impossible task of replacing Lisandro Martinez has sparked rumours he could leave the club in the summer.
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But with United still in three competitions, having already won the Carabao Cup, the 29-year-old said any decision over his future was for down the line. Asked by the National if he had given it any thought, Maguire said: "No. There’s a game every three days and I’m training as hard as I can. I’m in a good place mentally and physically, I feel good. The training sessions are really intense, especially the day after a game.
"There will be lads unhappy because they’ve not played or sat on the bench. That’s part of football, but it adds more competition and high-quality training where the lads are covering similar distances to what they do in a game. That’s a credit to the players and the coaching staff here putting on those sessions."
Whether the future has been thought about or not, 11 starts all season is far from ideal for a club captain and regular England international, particularly when natural left-back Luke Shaw has been preferred to him in a central position.
Competition for places is arguably toughest of all at centre back, with Maguire joining Martinez, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof in a quartet of international defenders - not that it makes being left out any easier.
"I always want to be on that pitch and leading the team out," Maguire added. "I want to strive to play every game for this club, but I also understand that the lads playing are playing well, really well. They’re top quality centre backs who are in good form. And that’s football. We also know that things can change quickly in football.
"We have four international centre backs at this club – and for good international sides. That’s a lot of competition and I believe that any of us could play week in, week out at a top Premier League club. Everyone is pushing each other and that’s good for Manchester United."
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