Former England manager Roy Hodgson has blamed Manchester United fans for the reception Harry Maguire received while playing for England this week.
The Three Lions ran out 3-0 winners against the Ivory Coast on Tuesday night but the result was somewhat overshadowed. United captain Maguire was booed both before and during the friendly victory.
Gareth Southgate called the booing 'an absolute joke' while his teammates Harry Kane, Jack Grealish and Declan Rice all defended Maguire after the game. Now, Hodgson has had his say on the matter.
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Speaking in his pre-match press conference before Watford's trip to Liverpool, Hodgson said: "I don't understand it. I don't understand where the impetus for that comes from, I don't know what the fans are reading or what they are being encouraged to do but it strikes me as being virtually beyond any comprehension.
"Someone who has represented his country and being chosen to represent his country and for his country has always done his best and has always played well, who was last year one of the heroes of the country - I don't understand how suddenly he deserves to be booed.
"But maybe you will tell me something that has been going on with Harry Maguire that I have missed because I don't follow every single thing that is being said or written so maybe I am being naive. But if having seen nothing to warrant any criticism of Maguire, other than the fact that the Manchester United fans are unhappy that their team is losing, in which case I would have to tell all fans to grow up because if you want to support football sometimes your team is going to win and sometimes they are going to lose."
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