Maguire admits Man United lack bravery after 1-1 draw at Leeds leaves them 13th

Harry Maguire has admitted that Manchester United’s players lack the bravery required to win matches, speaking after a 1-1 Premier League draw at Elland Road on Sunday that left the club 13th in the table with a single win from their opening seven fixtures.

Bryan Mbeumo gave United the lead with 35 minutes played, converting from close range to suggest the visitors had found some form. But Dominic Calvert-Lewin levelled moments after half-time from a well-worked corner, and United were unable to reclaim the advantage despite looking the more likely side in the final quarter.

“We could’ve been a bit braver with the ball and taken the ball under pressure,” Maguire said. “But we’re in a circumstance where we are not as brave as we should be, and we have to get that back — because to win games for Man Utd we have to have that bravery and composure.”

The experienced centre-back was candid about where United fell short, pointing to the middle of the pitch as the area where they failed to capitalise. “We knew we could get a lot of joy in the middle with them only playing two in there. That’s probably the area of the game where we could’ve done more,” he added.

Maguire was also measured in his assessment of the hosts, acknowledging the difficulty of the venue. “You can’t question the togetherness, the spirit, the fight. This is a tough place to come. Leeds have been flying in the league,” he said. “To concede a set-piece after half-time is disappointing. A draw is probably fair.”

The result piles further pressure on manager Michael Carrick, whose side have now taken just four points from a possible 21. The draw also follows a turbulent week at Old Trafford after Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atlético Madrid, which prompted Lisandro Martínez to publicly criticise the club’s senior leadership. Maguire also addressed Martínez’s situation, though the source material does not include the full detail of his comments on the Argentine’s demands of the club’s technical director.