Jordan Henderson and Declan Rice have joined England boss Gareth Southgate in slamming fans who booed Harry Maguire at Tuesday's win over the Ivory Coast.
Loud jeers could be heard when Maguire's name was read out as the Three Lions' team was announced. The defender has come in for fierce criticism for his performances for Manchester United this season, though he has continued to be a key part of Southgate's England team.
He featured heavily in the run to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and in England's Euro 2020 campaign, in which they reached their first major tournament final since 1966. Despite his poor club form, he kept his place in Southgate's squad for the friendlies against Switzerland and the Ivory Coast.
England fans were not happy to see his name on the team sheet though and made their displeasure known before a ball had even been kicked at Wembley. Maguire put the boos behind him to help the Three Lions secure a comfortable win, in what is likely to be their last friendly before this winter's World Cup.
While Maguire put the jeers behind him and moved on, his team-mates have been left furious by the boos. Liverpool captain Henderson leapt to the defence of the 29-year-old, penning a statement in which he slammed the fans who had booed.
"I can't get my head around what happened at Wembley tonight. Harry Maguire has been a colossus for England. Without him, the progress made at the last two tournaments would not have been possible," Henderson's statement read.
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"To be booed at his home stadium for no reason? What have we become? What happened tonight was just wrong. As someone who wants to win with England I feel fortunate to share a dressing room with him. We all feel the same."
Henderson's furious reaction was followed by that of West Ham star Rice, who also hit back at the booers. The midfielder slammed the jeers as an "absolute nonsense" and called on fans to get behind all of the Three Lions players.
"Total embarrassment from whoever boo’d tonight. @HarryMaguire93 has been incredible every single time he’s put on the England shirt. Absolute nonsense now it’s becoming. Back your own players. Especially with a Major tournament coming up," Rice wrote on Twitter.
Boss Southgate was left shocked by the jeers that met Maguire's name being read out. And he took the opportunity to give his full backing to the United captain in his post-match interview.
"I thought the reception was a joke, an absolute joke. 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," Southgate told Sky Sports.
"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."
