Comparing Maguire’s stats to Man United teammates after ‘ridiculously high’ win claims

Harry Maguire's time at Manchester United has been rocked by immense turbulence. He has never quite looked like a player with the hefty 80 million euro fee that the club paid to make him the most expensive defender in the world in 2019.

His spell at Old Trafford had been full of errors, defensive mishaps, 'tackling' teammates and borderline lacklustre performances. Erik ten Hag stripped him of the captaincy this season after his appearances last season were limited following Lisandro Martinez's arrival.

It was, therefore, a surprise to many to hear him say that his win percentage whenever he starts for ten Hag is 'ridiculously high.'

"My record under this manager speaks for itself. I haven't started as many games as I like, but my win percentage when I've played is ridiculously high."
The 30-year-old sent out a strong statement of intent that he would no longer accept to sit on the bench if the situation persists.

A quick look at stats points to the fact that there is some truth in the England international's comments. MEN reports that of the 18 matches he has started for ten Hag, he won 14 of them, resulting in a 77.7% win percentage - the latest the dramatic 2-1 victory over Brentford before the international break.

Of the four defeats, two of them came at the beginning of last season, when the Red Devils lost back-to-back games against Brighton and Brentford before eventually picking up. This calendar year, he has started in 13 games, winning all of them, save for one, which is a 92% win percentage.

The only drawback to Maguire's stats was that he started in games where United were expected to win or against weaker opposition. He started against EFL sides in the domestic cups, a second-leg Europa League tie against Real Betis, where they had a 4-1 first-leg lead and the last game of last season against Fulham, which was essentially dead rubber.

When compared to the defenders ten Hag prefers, Football Transfers noted that United's win percentage when Martinez and Varane start stands at 54.5% but shoots to over 80% when both of them are not available.

Maguire's comments might, therefore, be true but are skewed in some sense. The fact that he starts fewer games, which are considered 'easy' on paper, gives him the advantage to post higher percentages than his teammates.

Apart from defenders, he leads the whole squad in players who have more than 5 appearances for ten Hag. Scott McTominay is second with 73%, while Tyrell Malacia and Antony Elanga are joint third with 69%.

???? "My win percentage when I've played is ridiculously high." ????

Harry Maguire believes his recent form should see him play a major part in Man United's upcoming games pic.twitter.com/zhQBUlt0is

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 12, 2023