Back in September 2023, things were rough for Harry Maguire. He was having a terrible time, getting jeered and taunted during an England match against Scotland. He came on, played well, and then, just his luck, scored an own goal. It got so bad that his mum, Zoe, jumped onto social media to defend him. She called the way people treated him “disgraceful and unacceptable.”

Harry had actually asked her not to say anything, but she was having none of it. “I didn’t want her to, but she just said, ‘I’m doing it! I’m not listening to you!’” he said, smiling at the memory as he spoke to journalists at the club’s training base near Dublin.

He admitted that his family probably felt that pain even more than he did. They saw firsthand what he went through, how tough it really got. That Scotland fiasco? That was his lowest point. But in his mind, moments like those are just part of the journey. He wouldn’t change a thing; they’ve just made him stronger.

It honestly feels harsh to harp on the bad stuff. Maguire, now 33, still thinks he’s done a pretty good job at United. “I’ve performed really well in six out of my seven seasons at Old Trafford,” he insists. At this point, he still believes he’s “arguably one of the best defenders in the world in both boxes.” Late in games, whether you’re trying to protect a lead or go chasing one, he knows he makes an impact.

The way he talks about the lows is so open and honest, though, people can’t help but ask about it, especially since he just signed a new United contract for his eighth, maybe even ninth, season. Not that long ago, he lost the captain’s armband thanks to Erik ten Hag, and the club tried to sell him to West Ham. Things looked bleak.

When they took the captaincy away, he felt angry and disappointed, who wouldn’t? But he always figured, unless you’re one of the truly elite, the ups and downs just come with the territory. Players hit incredible highs, then lose form, maybe fade away. He watched legends like Wayne Rooney and David Beckham go through the same public hammering, and learned from their resilience.

So Maguire just put his head down and worked. He’s always believed in himself, always thought he was a top player sometimes, that’s all you have when things are falling apart.

Of course, it hasn’t been easy. Losing the captaincy stung. Still, he says his form improved right after, though he believes he would have bounced back either way. Some players, he knows, would have cracked. “I think there’ll be a lot who want to just close the book, go elsewhere and restart,” he says. For many, all the mockery and abuse would have broken them earlier. He almost hit that breaking point himself.

But now, things feel different. The public seems to be behind him. That new contract proves United still value what he brings, especially with someone like Casemiro leaving. There was plenty of interest in Maguire this summer, but it never felt like his time at United was truly up.

He’s proud to still be there after eight years and calls it “a huge honour.” His focus has been on staying competitive. He wants a squad built to win things. United recruited well last year, and this summer feels massive. The club let him know a while back they wanted to extend his deal, so once there was a break in matches, he made sure to get it done.

Right now, United sit third, with seven games left. They need four wins and a draw to lock up a Champions League spot. Maguire knows nothing’s settled. He’s suspended for the Leeds game and waiting to find out if he’ll miss the Chelsea match, too, after his red card at Bournemouth. But he’s not taking any opponent lightly “If you’re not on it, you get beat,” he says. Teams like Chelsea, Villa, and Liverpool can all go on winning streaks right when it matters most.

Still, he sees hope. The squad looks stronger. But he’s not pretending they don’t need new faces: “This summer’s going to be big. We need more players. Better quality. Guys who can go straight into the starting lineup. We’re not in Europe this year, and we’ve already played 40 games. We need a bigger squad.”

Ask him about the club’s limits? “I don’t think there’s any ceiling on it,” he says. When February and March roll around, he doesn't want United playing catch-up any more. Football’s about memories, he says. Sure, you can make special moments with big goals, but the best memories only come from winning the big trophies.

On the international front, Maguire ended his 18-month absence from England with appearances in World Cup warmups against Uruguay and Japan. His return was met mostly with support, even after Thomas Tuchel publicly ranked him as a fifth-choice centre-back. Maguire’s had tougher challenges than that.

He’s hungry to make the World Cup squad for what he admits would likely be his last tournament. “I’ve been to two, but I missed the Euros two years ago with injury, and that really hurt.” He’ll accept whatever role the manager wants, starter, bench, it doesn’t matter as long as he can help. “If the manager believes the same, I’m sure he will pick me.”