Harry Maguire has admitted disappointment at Gareth Southgate’s decision to drop him from the England squad, though Manchester United’s captain does understand why the manager did so in the wake of his conviction in a Greek court.
On Tuesday Southgate initially selected Maguire for next month’s games against Iceland and Denmark, citing how the defender was denying the charges and how discussions with Maguire had convinced him of the 27-year-old’s innocence.
Yet when Maguire was found guilty later that day of assaulting a police officer, swearing, resisting arrest and attempted bribery, Southgate reversed his decision.
Maguire, who has launched an appeal and has said he confident of his innocence, was asked about Southgate’s action. “Yeah I understand – obviously I’m disappointed,” he told the BBC. “I love playing for my country, I’m physically good, I’m mentally strong.
“Mentally I can get over this. I’m a strong lad. I’m physically and mentally ready to play [so] no, I’m disappointed. But of course I understand.”
The incident occurred on Mykonos last week, Maguire having been pictured during the day enjoying alcohol. Maguire was asked whether that had been a factor.
“I’m not going to sit here and say I didn’t have a drink all day,” he said. “I had a few drinks. Anybody who knows me, anybody who knows who has been out with me, knows how I am when I have a few drinks – I’m always aware, I always stay in control. I definitely really wasn’t drunk. I knew what was going off. I just found myself in a bad situation.”