Michail Antonio is enraged by West Ham United-related allegations. West Ham United forward Harry Maguire Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has received “embarrassing” abuse, according to Michail Antonio.
The 33-year-old claimed on the Footballers’ Football Podcast that the criticism of the England international, who was linked with a move to West Ham over the summer, has “gone too far” and that he has never seen someone in football be “absolutely destroyed” if he does something wrong.
After the game against Scotland, the Jamaican international complimented England boss Gareth Southgate for standing up for the 30-year-old defense, saying that it should have been “brought up before.”
“It’s gone way too far – it’s actually embarrassing,” Antonio stated. “I’ve never seen in football how one person can be completely destroyed whenever he does something wrong, even if it’s not his fault and he’s only involved in it.”
“People forget that they are human, and this obviously has an effect on them mentally.” He went from being an incredible centre-half, perhaps one of the finest in the Premier League at Hull and Leicester, to half-a-man.
“He’s trying to rebuild himself, to stay strong.” He is confident in his abilities. It’s just not working for him right now.
“I was like ‘well done’ when I saw Gareth Southgate speak up.” It should have been mentioned earlier. It’s been exactly two years.”
There is a distinction to be made.
When it comes to criticizing athletes, there is a level that must be crossed before it becomes abusive, and this is where the issue with Maguire has reached.
Antonio is one of the first footballers who will most likely come out in support of the defender in the following days and weeks as the narrative develops.
The Englishman didn’t help himself by staying at Man United, but he doesn’t deserve this massive pile on, especially at a time when mental health awareness is on the rise.
At the end of the day, footballers are there to be judged for their performances, and Maguire did make a mistake against Scotland, which he would admit wasn’t good enough.
It really seems like there has been an unhealthy fascination with the center-back in recent months, and something will have to give soon.
