26 October 2023 , 16:37
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Harry Redknapp has hit back at critics of Harry Maguire after his son Jamie said the Manchester United defender has been "treated disgracefully by football fans".
Maguire has started United's last three games in all competitions due to an injury crisis in defence, helping to three successive victories over Brentford, Sheffield United and Copenhagen.
The 30-year-old was named player of the match in the 2-1 win over the Blades and scored the only goal of the game as United picked up their first Champions League victory of the new season over Copenhagen.
And former Premier League manager Harry Redknapp says he is hopeful Maguire can build on his recent performances, branding some of the criticism he has received in recent years "rubbish". Redknapp told BetVictor : "Harry has had so much stick over the last couple of years and a lot of it has been completely rubbish.
"He's been out of favour, but he's knuckled down and waited for his opportunity. He was superb at Bramall Lane and hopefully the lad can build on that performance moving forward."
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And Redknapp's son Jamie has also defended Maguire in recent weeks, stating that he "doesn't deserve the amount of hate he gets". Speaking on Sky Sports after United's win over Sheffield United, Redknapp said: "As a professional, I think he's been treated disgracefully by football fans.
"Everywhere he's been, even his own fans, England fans, he's been ridiculed and it's not fair. He's shown how important he is tonight, and of course, he's made mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes.
Harry and Jamie Redknapp have both defended Maguire (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)"There are so many players at Manchester United capable of making the mistakes he's made before but they won't get a quarter of the stick that he does when Harry Maguire does it. It becomes a meme, everyone starts talking about it.
"Do I think long-term that he'll be the answer for them? I actually don't, he's played well recently but I think he'll have to make his way again somewhere else. But he doesn't deserve the amount of hate he gets, I think it's been massively below the belt and disgraceful at times."
United will be back in action on Sunday when they host local rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford, with Maguire and co set for a tough challenge against Pep Guardiola's reigning Premier League champions.