--- title: "Maguire: Man Utd 'completely misused' McTominay" description: "Harry Maguire says Scott McTominay’s attacking talents were wasted at Old Trafford, and his success at Napoli proves it. The midfielder has 12 goals and 7 assists in Serie A this season alone." url: https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/harry-maguire-says-man-utd-completely-misused-a-player-who-h-b28c76e6 published: 2026-07-01T13:01:55.099+00:00 updated: 2026-07-01T13:01:55.099+00:00 author: "Kostadin Stamboliev" publisher: "Pineido" site: "Sportopod" language: en topics: ["soccer"] --- # Maguire: Man Utd 'completely misused' McTominay > Harry Maguire says Scott McTominay’s attacking talents were wasted at Old Trafford, and his success at Napoli proves it. The midfielder has 12 goals and 7 assists in Serie A this season alone. Manchester United completely misused Scott McTominay during his time at Old Trafford, according to teammate Harry Maguire. Speaking on *The Rest is Football*, Maguire praised McTominay’s “real high level” finishing and intelligent runs, arguing he was far more effective playing as an attacking midfielder or box-to-box eight rather than the deeper six he often occupied under former managers. Maguire’s assessment underscores a recurring pattern at United: McTominay’s offensive instincts were sidelined in favor of rigid positional roles that failed to unlock his best qualities. The timing of Maguire’s comments is sharp. McTominay has thrived since joining Napoli, where he operates as a dynamic number eight, racking up goals and assists in Serie A. Maguire, who played alongside McTominay at United, said he was “not surprised” by his success abroad, citing the challenge of displacing Bruno Fernandes from United’s attacking midfield role. Erik ten Hag eventually recognized McTominay’s potential in attack during the 2023–24 season, deploying him higher up the pitch and unlocking his goal threat. That late shift, Maguire implies, came too late—and too narrowly—for United to benefit fully. McTominay’s impact at Napoli extends beyond raw numbers. His ability to arrive late in the box and finish with both feet has made him a consistent goal threat in Serie A, where physicality and tactical discipline reward such traits. Napoli’s system under Rudi Garcia prioritizes vertical transitions, and McTominay’s direct running and pressing intensity fit perfectly—unlike at United, where his progressive carries were often stifled by a midfield three that prioritized containment over creativity. United’s midfield structure under Solskjær and Rangnick frequently left McTominay isolated in deep areas, where his progressive passing and dribbling were underutilized. Even when he pushed forward, the lack of supporting runners in attack limited his effectiveness. Maguire’s critique highlights a broader issue: United’s midfield often operated as a single unit rather than a fluid, interchangeable system that could adapt to individual strengths. The contrast in McTominay’s output is stark. At United, he scored 21 goals in 277 appearances across all competitions; at Napoli, he has 12 goals and 7 assists in just 35 Serie A games this season. His xG+xA per 90 has nearly doubled since leaving England, a metric that reflects his improved role and confidence. Erik ten Hag’s late positional shift for McTominay—moving him from deep midfield to advanced roles—showed glimpses of what he could offer, but United’s reliance on Fernandes and the team’s inconsistent attacking structure meant McTominay never got a sustained run in his preferred position. Maguire’s comments serve as a post-mortem on United’s failure to integrate McTominay’s profile into a cohesive tactical plan. Maguire’s insider critique isn’t just another pundit take; it’s a damning verdict from a current United player on the club’s tactical misfires. His argument that McTominay’s finishing and runs were wasted in a deep midfield role exposes systemic issues in player development and tactical flexibility at Old Trafford. For Napoli, it’s vindication: their faith in McTominay’s attacking profile has paid off. For United fans, it’s a brutal ‘what if’—one that forces a reckoning with years of squandered potential and missed opportunities. ## Why this matters Maguire’s insider critique isn’t just another pundit take; it’s a damning verdict from a current United player on the club’s tactical misfires. His argument that McTominay’s finishing and runs were wasted in a deep midfield role exposes systemic issues in player development and tactical flexibility at Old Trafford. For Napoli, it’s vindication: their faith in McTominay’s attacking profile has paid off. For United fans, it’s a brutal ‘what if’—one that forces a reckoning with years of squandered potential and missed opportunities. ## Frequently asked ### What role did Scott McTominay play at Manchester United? McTominay was primarily deployed as a defensive midfielder (number six) under Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Ralf Rangnick, despite his attacking instincts. ### Where does McTominay excel now at Napoli? At Napoli, McTominay operates as a box-to-box eight or attacking midfielder, using his finishing and intelligent runs to great effect. ### Did Erik ten Hag change McTominay’s role at United? Yes. In the 2023–24 season, ten Hag moved McTominay higher up the pitch, unlocking his goal threat and improving his impact. ### Why was displacing Bruno Fernandes a challenge for McTominay? Fernandes was entrenched as United’s attacking midfielder, making it difficult for McTominay to break into that advanced role earlier in his career. ### What did Harry Maguire say about McTominay’s finishing? Maguire called McTominay’s finishing ‘real high level,’ emphasizing that his attacking skills were underutilized at United. ### How has McTominay performed at Napoli compared to United? McTominay has been far more productive offensively at Napoli, scoring and assisting at a higher rate than during his time at United. ## Sources & Citations - [Harry Maguire says Man Utd completely misused a player who has 'real high level' qualities](https://www.unitedinfocus.com/news/harry-maguire-says-man-utd-completely-misused-a-player-who-has-real-high-level-qualities/) — GNews.io (2026-06-20) --- Cite: Maguire: Man Utd 'completely misused' McTominay. Sportopod, 2026-07-01. https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/harry-maguire-says-man-utd-completely-misused-a-player-who-h-b28c76e6