Captain Harry Maguire admits Manchester United have deserved recent criticism and the players must prove they are good enough to represent the club.
United suffered a first defeat under interim manager Ralf Rangnick against Wolves on Monday, and that was followed by reports about a poor mood inside the dressing room, and on the back of being branded “a bunch of whinge-bags” by former defender Gary Neville during the 1-1 draw at struggling Newcastle.
Maguire knows the players must do better, as they prepare to return to action in the third round of the FA Cup against Aston Villa on Monday.
“I’ve obviously seen a lot of criticism and a lot of is absolutely justified, but for me, with this team, it shouldn’t need criticism to motivate players,” Maguire said in an interview on www.manutd.com.
“If players of this quality aren’t motivated to play for this club when they pull the shirt on, then there’s something wrong.”
Maguire added: “From what the fans and ex-players have said, we get it.
“As I just said, a lot of it is justified and we all have to take massive responsibility, myself as captain as much as anyone, if not more. We’ve got to start playing well and winning.
“This team finished second last year and we have a better and bigger squad this year, so we have to show the right attitude.
Manchester United lose to Wolves - how the players rated
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MAN UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea 7. Needed to be on it and got his fingers to a Neves shot on 12 minutes. Saved again from the excellent Podence on 24 mins – Wolves' ninth goal attempt in the first 25 minutes. That trend continued and in the end a Wolves team who struggle to score won at Old Trafford for the first time in 40 years. Could do little about goal. EPA -
Aaron Wan-Bissaka 5. Marcal pushed up against him, but did well to get past him and sent a cross towards Ronaldo on 19 minutes – and again on 27. Problem was the crosses were too high. Regressed in the second half. Getty Images -
Phil Jones 7. First game since January 2020. Big cheer when he cleared the ball in the first minute and again with a block after 10. Excellent in first half, made a couple of errors in the second as United shifted to three central defenders. His header went to Moutinho who scored. United’s best player. Getty Images -
Raphael Varane 7. Busy first half with Wolves the better side. Did little wrong in a side low on confidence. The issue was more with those in front of him. Getty Images -
Luke Shaw 6. Difficult task against Semedo. Guilty of giving the ball away - like the rest of his teammates. Switched to be back three in second half and did well several times, such as against Jimenez to stop 64th minute attack. Beaten for the cross for the goal. Gave ball away too much. Getty Images -
Scott McTominay 5. Only United player to start last 10 league games, but lost possession too many times in the first half. Booked. Again. Good run at goal on 70 minutes; too deep for the Wolves goal. Outclassed by his opposites. United’s midfield is a major issue. Getty Images -
Nemanja Matic 5. United’s slow midfield again overran. Set up Fernandes who hit the crossbar. Took a foul for the team bringing down Traore and was booked for it. A high boot into his head saw a 95th minute free-kick awarded. Reuters -
Jadon Sancho 4. Went alone in a sixth minute attack when Ronaldo was free to his left, but limited influence in the first half. Another who gave the ball away too much. United need much more from him. Reuters -
Mason Greenwood 7. Sublime ball forward to Sancho after six minutes and good on the ball in the first half. Hit a shot well over on 50 minutes. Best when winning the ball deep and playing passes forward. The decision to bring him off was booed. AFP -
Cristiano Ronaldo 5. Stand in captain. Tried to head the ball back to De Gea on 34 minutes and got it wrong. Put ball in the net but offside. Walked off the pitch full of frustration. Same old. Getty Images -
Edinson Cavani 5. Wild shot on 42 minutes when he was under no pressure. Came too deep too often. Disappointing. AP Photo -
SUB: Bruno Fernandes 7. Rare for him to start on the bench, but his form has been poor. Hit the bar on 67 minutes when he should have scored. Brightened the game up. Excellent free-kick saved in time added on Getty Images -
SUB: Marcus Rashford 6. On for Sancho after 75. Been out of form. Almost scored. AFP -
SUB: Anthony Elanga NA On for Wan Bissaka on 83. Youngster given a chance. EPA -
WOLVES RATINGS: Jose Sa 7 - Commanded his box well and anticipated the majority of balls coming in from out wide, but he didn’t really have much to do until a Bruno Fernandes freekick in the final minute of added time. AFP -
Romain Saiss 7 - The defender came close to opening the scoring with a freekick that whipped onto the crossbar. Kept things simple at the back without a need for committing himself mindlessly. Reuters -
Conor Coady 7 - The Wolves captain organised his backline well and they were faultless for the most part on Monday evening. Bruno Fernandes struck the bar at one point as the Wolves defence allowed a man to get spare, but that was an anomaly on an otherwise impressive display, with Coady at the heart of it. Getty Images -
Max Kilman 7 - Got across well to prevent Scott McTominay who was running into the box at pace. The 24-year-old was neat in possession of the ball all game, rarely putting a foot wrong. AFP -
Marcal 7 - Provided a diagonal option on the left flank and was able to work some crossing opportunities, with Jimenez narrowly missing a proper connection on one in the 76th minute. Getty Images -
Joao Moutinho 9 - An expertly taken strike from outside the box proved to be the winner for Wolves, and the 35-year-old deserved it after battling tirelessly in midfield all game, often winning possession back with strong tackles. Getty Images -
Ruben Neves 8 - Always a threat on the ball and came close with a spectacular volley from way outside the box. Looked very comfortable alongside Moutinho, with the Portuguese pair controlling the tempo of the game. Getty Images -
Nelson Semedo 8 - As bright going forward as he was on the defensive side of his game. Semedo was tasked with dealing with the threat of Jadon Sancho, and he got the better of him on the night while linking up well with players further forward. Getty Images -
Daniel Podence 9 - Frequently probed the Manchester United defence and was fearless running at defenders. The Old Trafford crowd knew that every time Podence had the ball, something was likely to happen. Getty Images -
Raul Jimenez 6 - Worked hard and held the ball well up in moments but there were a few occasions where Jimenez gave away the ball needlessly with passes that weren’t near their intended target. Getty Images -
Trincao 7 - Looked to play positively to carve through the defence and created some promising moments for Wolves before he was replaced for Traore. Getty Images -
SUB: Adama Traore (Trincao, 66) 6 - Manchester United defenders could only foul him as he broke a way on the counter, with Traore constantly looking to carry the ball deep into enemy territory. As ever with Traore, he looked dangerous on the ball, but his final pass could have been better. AP Photo -
SUB: Fabio SIlva (Jimenez 81) N/R - Ran the channels well and worked hard to try and keep Wolves on the front foot. Getty Images -
SUB: Leander Dendoncker (Podence 88) N/R - On to tighten up the game for Podence in the final minutes. Getty Images
“We have big players in the team; leaders. I’m sick of repeating myself but it can’t continue like this – we need to go on a proper run, starting Monday.”
Maguire is expecting a reaction, but played down suggestions of disharmony in the dressing room.
“We are all angry and want to do our best, which has probably come across on the pitch at times, but the team spirit is good, despite what people say,” the England defender added.
“Being a professional footballer, you have to take criticism on the chin and react well to it.
“At the same time, you have to ignore the outside noise sometimes and just get your head down (in training).
“We know if we can put together a run of results then everything else takes care of itself.”
Maguire maintains the squad have been left in no doubt of what standards are expected.
“I am the captain and leader in the dressing room and I’ve had private conversations with the players and the management which will remain private,” he said.
“Make no mistake about it, I’m here for the fight and I know my team-mates are. I expect them to be and if they’re not then – like I said – there’s something wrong.
“We have a big squad. Of course, not all players will always be happy as they are not playing but that’s football and we all have to remain professional.
“I came here to win titles. I could have signed elsewhere, but I wanted to be at United and help get them back to the winning ways that the club had in the Sir Alex (Ferguson) era.
“It will come if we all stay together. I grew up idolising the likes of Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic – and I want to repeat what they achieved.
“I am privileged to be captain and I’ve got a responsibility to lead the players and turn things round.”
