Vidic explains why Maguire has struggled to command the ‘respect’ of his Man Utd team-mates

Former Man Utd centre-back Nemanja Vidic thinks Harry Maguire’s poor performances mean he can’t command the “respect” of the Red Devils dressing room.

Maguire is the current club captain at Old Trafford despite having to pass the armband to other players for a large chunk of the season.

The England international has made just seven Premier League starts under Erik ten Hag this season after a number of poor performances last campaign.

He hasn’t been too bad when called upon this campaign but a recent mistake in their 3-0 loss to Sevilla saw him vilified by Man Utd supporters.

And the Red Devils fans will probably have to put up with him until the end of the season due to injuries to starters Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez.

There are rumours Maguire will leave for more playing time in the summer transfer window and Vidic has explained why the former Leicester City defender has found it so hard to become captain at Old Trafford.

Man Utd legend Vidic said on Rio Ferdinand’s Vibe with FIVE YouTube channel: “Maguire has a problem because he doesn’t perform well. When you don’t perform well it’s difficult to say to someone what to do. I think that Maguire is doing well for the national team, he was great for Leicester.

“But obviously, he’s struggling to perform for Manchester United the way he’s performing for other clubs. But It’s difficult to gain that type of respect, it’s nothing against Maguire now.

“In general, any captain has to be first, has to show an example. A captain has to play well and has to fight for the club and then everybody else will do it.”

And Vidic had Ferdinand in stitches by suggesting his only regret about his time at Man Utd was former executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward arriving a year before his departure.

Vidic said: “The only thing I have as a regret is that I didn’t have Ed Woodward in my time.”

As Ferdinand let out a laugh at the comment, Vidic asked: “Why are you laughing?”

Ferdinand replied: “Because of money. You’re talking money and contracts.”

Vidic then added: “You know what I am talking about. But do I regret it?

“David Gill and Fergie were at the club, trying to set up the levels of salaries, structure — what they have now, what they are going to get, what you have to do to get there.

“So if you ask me for regrets… I think Woodward had a lot of time to bring the club in the right direction.

“I think Richard Arnold is doing well in a short period of time, bringing in Erik ten Hag and certain things they did in the last six months, one year is showing the club is strong. I see some improvement.”

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