Southgate defends ‘own goal’ regular Maguire
England manager Gareth Southgate came to the defence of the struggling Harry Maguire after the defender was goaded as soon as he came on and went on to score an own-goal
Harry Maguire turned the ball into his own net after coming on for England against Scotland. Jude Bellingham believes England bagged the bragging rights by beating the Auld Enemy at Hampden Park.
Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate hailed the man-of-the-match display from the Real Madrid midfielder as they beat Scotland 3-1. But Southgate was left fuming as he labelled criticism of Harry Maguire a ‘joke’ after the Manchester United defender was mocked by the Tartan Army for his own goal.
Bellingham said: “It was more than a friendly game and it means so much to the fans with the bragging rights."
Southgate hailed Bellingham’s display after he scored one, assisted for Harry Kane, and played a big role in Phil Foden’s opener for England.
The Three Lions boss said: “He doesn't have a point to prove to us, we know he is a really good player. Saturday was not his best game but we weren't at the level we wanted to be and we knew he has a fantastic personality to come back from that.
"His performances have been outstanding and one performance isn't going to change that. As an attacking eight, or where he played tonight, he looks to get into the box. Tonight his athleticism to press was so important.”
But Southgate wasn’t so happy about criticism of Maguire which he believes has sparked the former United captain being mocked by rival fans. The home support were goading Maguire even before he turned Andy Robertson’s cross into his own goal to make it 2-1 before Kane finished the game off.
Southgate added: “It is a consequence of the 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 by the Scottish fans by our own commentators, pundits, or
whatever it is. They have created something that is beyond anything I have ever seen.”
