Harry Maguire criticized by John Obi Mikel following Manchester United loss

Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has criticized Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, arguing that the center-back should not be a starter for the club. Speaking on ‘The Obi One Podcast’, Mikel suggested that Maguire does not fit the system or the ethos of Manchester United and expressed confusion over how the defender has remained at the club for seven or eight seasons.

Mikel’s comments follow Manchester United’s 2–0 defeat to newly promoted Hull City in their opening Premier League fixture of the 2026/2027 season. Maguire, who was signed in 2019 for £80 million, faced scrutiny for his performance during the match, specifically regarding defensive positioning during set-pieces.

While Mikel stated that Maguire could serve as a valuable option from the bench, he urged manager Michael Carrick to utilize other available defensive options such as Lisandro Martínez, Matthijs de Ligt, or Leny Yoro.