"Ruben Amorim's ideas didn't work out at Man. United"

After a period of limited playing time under Ruben Amorim's tenure at Manchester United, Harry Maguire is back in the England squad. The 33-year-old defender admits he feared his international career might be over. This call-up marks his first under Thomas Tuchel, following 64 caps and three major tournaments.

"There was a time I thought I wouldn't get back in," the defender confessed in an interview with the Daily Mail. "Probably at the end of last season, when I wasn't called up for the summer camp. In the three autumn camps, I had an intermittent start to the season with injuries, so I didn't think I should have been selected," explained the player, who views the managerial change at Manchester United as a decisive factor in his return.

The replacement of Ruben Amorim with Michael Carrick in January proved pivotal. Since then, Maguire has become an undisputed starter in the heart of the Red Devils' defense, contributing to their climb to third place in the Premier League. The tactical shift from a back three to a back four was crucial, especially as Tuchel also favors a four-man defensive line.

"The question when you play in a back three is whether you can play in a back four. When you play with a back five (three center-backs) and you're the middle one, people automatically think that you're a bit older, that you can't move as much, and that you're protected. Which, in reality, happens, but I've always said I much prefer playing in a back four. I feel I can be more aggressive, play further forward. That's a big part of my game," he emphasized.

The experienced center-back commented on Ruben Amorim's spell at Old Trafford, absolving the Portuguese coach of blame for the lack of success and offering praise: "I don't have much bad to say about Ruben. I like him a lot, I think he has great ideas. The ideas just didn't work out at Manchester United. I believe he will have a fantastic career. It just didn't fit, and I think we, as players, also have to take a lot of responsibility for that."

Now, the defender is competing for a spot in the final squad alongside John Stones, Marc Guéhi, Dan Burn, and Ezri Konsa, but he remains confident. "I have great confidence in myself. I am a top-level center-back," he concluded.