Maguire has been on the receiving end of heavy criticism in recent months owing to his own poor performances as the Red Devils have continued to struggle on the pitch and many have questioned whether he is the right man to captain the side.
The centre-back’s situation went from bad to worse having got himself sent off at the weekend as Watford thrashed Manchester United 4-1 in the Premier League, which also became Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s final game in charge of the Mancunians.
However, former top flight star Barnes has insisted that Maguire is the right man to lead the Manchester giants and stressed he is a good defender.
Barnes explained that Maguire and the rest of Manchester United’s backline is left exposed in games because the rest of the team do not help out in defending.
“Harry Maguire is absolutely the right man to be Manchester United captain”, Barnes told Bonus Code Bets.
“He’s playing in a back four that aren’t being protected.
“If Liverpool’s front three didn’t work as hard off the ball, the back four would also struggle.
“It’s not about any individual defender because Harry Maguire is a good defender, as are Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw.
“But the problem is, they’re just being left to defend when the rest of the team doesn’t apart from Fred and Scott McTominay who also need more hard done work in front of them.
“So, I don’t criticise Maguire at all because he’s a good defender for Manchester United and England but the way the team is playing, he’s being left to defend on his own which he can’t do so I don’t blame him at all.”
Manchester United have agreed a deal with Ralf Rangnick to become their interim manager and it remains to be seen whether Maguire will remain the club captain under the German.
