Gareth Southgate hit out at the “ridiculous” criticism surrounding Harry Maguire.
Despite being one of the leading players of Southgate’s rebuild of the Three Lions, the defender continues to be the subject of intense scrutiny.
A regular in the Three Lions set-up even after losing his place with Manchester United and being removed as club captain, the 30-year-old’s place in the squad is frequently questioned.
Marc Guehi, Levi Colwill and Fiyako Tomori offer perhaps more fashionable alternatives but Southgate has shown little desire to drop Maguire even in light of his differing club form.
Lewis Dunk started alongside Guehi during Tuesday’s 3-1 win over Scotland, with Maguire replacing the latter at half-time.
The United defender would then score an own goal, albeit an unfortunate one when trying to clear Andy Robertson’s cross before Harry Kane restored England’s two-goal cushion.
Maguire was then targeted by the home support at Hampden Park, sparking Southgate into a roaring defence of the player.
“From a Scotland fans’ point of view I get it, I have no absolutely no complaints of what they did,” he said.
“It is a consequence of ridiculous treatment of him for a long period of time, frankly, and I think our fans recognised, ‘ok there might be a bit of heat from our own supporters but we are not going to have it from others getting into him.’ But it is a joke.
“I have never known a player to be treated the way he is, not from the Scottish fans, by our own commentators, pundits, whatever it is, they have created something that is beyond anything I have ever seen.
“He has been an absolute stalwart for us in the second most successful English team for decades, he has been an absolutely key part of that. I have talked about the importance of our senior players, he has been crucial amongst that and every time he goes on the field the resilience he shows, the balls he shows is absolutely incredible, so he is a top player and we are all with him.
“Our fans were brilliant with him tonight. I feel fairly strongly about it yes.
“He is good, he is great, we have had a good win and he was a big part of that. He has fronted up as he always does which is enormous credit to his character.”
