Harry Maguire, the Manchester United center-back, has faced Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City numerous times. Since joining United in 2019, the 31-year-old has experienced both significant victories and defeats in the Manchester derbies. For example, during the 4-1 loss to Manchester City in March 2022, Maguire was part of United’s defense. Although Jadon Sancho scored an equalizer, Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez each scored twice, leading to a dominant City performance.

However, Maguire also played in United’s surprising 2-0 win over City at Old Trafford in March 2020. Over time, he may have developed a greater appreciation for City’s style of play, especially considering his experience at Leicester City, where losing to City was often expected despite Leicester’s quality.

Derby form often goes out the window, but Guardiola typically sets his team to play their natural game, often dominating these encounters. Maguire has also observed City players like Kyle Walker, John Stones, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, and Kalvin Phillips showcase their talents with England. This experience has likely increased his respect for his City counterparts.

In a recent interview with GOAL on TikTok, Maguire praised Walker’s speed when asked to choose a player’s best attribute. Maguire has benefited from Walker’s pace, especially in high-stakes games where opposition managers target his own lack of speed. Walker’s ability to recover has often been a crucial asset for England, providing a safety net for Maguire and the rest of the defense. This has likely given Maguire a special appreciation for Walker’s speed and its impact on the team’s performance at the highest level.