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Gareth Southgate has hit out at the \u2018idiotic\u2019 treatment Harry Maguire has received over his continued inclusion in the England team and says the criticism is the worst he has ever seen.<\/p>\n
Manchester United news, exclusives and analysis<\/p>\n
Despite only making one substitute appearance for Manchester United so far this season, the 30-year-old centre-back was picked to start in Saturday\u2019s 1-1 draw against Ukraine and came on at half-time in Tuesday\u2019s 3-1 victory over Scotland.<\/p>\n
He was given a very rough time by the home fans at Hampden Park when he was introduced and, despite playing well in his time on the pitch, was mocked mercilessly for netting an unfortunate own goal.<\/p>\n
Southgate did not begrudge Scotland\u2019s supporters for trying to get under Maguire\u2019s skin but slammed the way the defender has been ridiculed and criticised by pundits, the media and even his own supporters.<\/p>\n
A visibly livid Southgate told beIN Sports after the match: \u2018He was exceptional for us at the weekend. The reaction tonight is a consequence of idiots really from our side who have created that environment.<\/p>\n
\u2018So what I think was brilliant tonight was our fans who were here recognised that they\u2019re going to protect their own. We should be doing that.<\/p>\n
\u2018We\u2019re creating a problem for our own player. Some of the articles that were written, some of the comments that were made, were an absolute joke.<\/p>\n
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\u2018He\u2019s been a tower of strength for us through one of the most successful periods of English football and the response tonight \u2013 I understand Scottish fans, they\u2019re having some fun \u2013 but it\u2019s created by our own side, it\u2019s ridiculous.\u2019<\/p>\n
Southgate continued his defence of Maguire in his post-match press conference, saying: \u2018From a Scotland fans\u2019 point of view I get it and I\u2019ve got absolutely no complaints with what they did.<\/p>\n
\u2018It\u2019s a consequence of ridiculous treatment of him for a long period of time, frankly. I think our fans recognised, \u201cOkay, there might be a bit of heat from our own supporters but we\u2019re not going to have it from others getting into him\u201d. But it\u2019s a joke. I\u2019ve never known a player treated the way he is. Not by the Scottish fans, by our own commentators, pundits, whatever it is.<\/p>\n
\u2018They\u2019ve created something that\u2019s beyond anything I\u2019ve ever seen. He\u2019s been an absolute stalwart for us in the second-most successful England team for decades. He\u2019s been an absolutely key part of that.<\/p>\n
\u2018I\u2019ve talked about the importance of our senior players, he\u2019s been crucial amongst that. Every time he goes on the field the resilience he shows, the balls he shows, is absolutely incredible. So he\u2019s a top player and we\u2019re all with him. And our fans were brilliant with him tonight.\u2019<\/p>\n
On how Maguire has reacted, Southgate added: \u2018He\u2019s good, he\u2019s great. We\u2019ve had a good win, he\u2019s been a big part of that. So he\u2019s gone and spoken with the media, because that\u2019s the sort of lad he is. He\u2019s fronted up, as he always does, and again enormous credit to his character.\u2019<\/p>\n