Harry Maguire admits Man Utd advantage for new Premier League season gives them no excuses

Harry Maguire admits that Manchester United's lack of European football this season gives them 'no excuses' in the Premier League. Maguire, 32, has said that the extra time to prepare for league matches should be an advantage for his team-mates and boss Ruben Amorim, who'll have more hours to work with them on the training ground.

United manager Amorim often bemoaned the Red Devils' busy schedule after he was appointed in November. Due to having a fixture either in Europe or domestically every three to four days for the vast majority of the campaign, the Portuguese found it even more difficult to implement his system.

But that's been flipped on its head this term. After finishing 15th in the Premier League and losing the Europa League final last time out, Amorim's side won't be in Europe whatsoever.

It's only the second time since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 that the Red Devils will go into a season without European football. For Maguire, he sees it as an opportunity to make sure that they're in tip-top condition to enjoy a much better Premier League campaign.

"I just want to be part of a successful team this season," the defender told MUTV. "I think last season was a tough season for everyone individually, but also as a team, as a squad, as a club.

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"This season, there are no excuses. We're going to have a lot of time to prepare for the Premier League games, and we've got to make sure we're ready. So, for myself, it's making sure I'm available, I'm fit, I'm ready to go, and give everything I can to this team and this club."

Maguire added that he and his team-mates know Amorim's system 'a lot better' following their pre-season tour of the USA, where they largely worked on tactics in training. "It's something that he reiterated, that we didn't have enough time on the training pitch," the England international continued.

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"This pre-season, it's been tough on the legs, but the majority of it has been tactical. So, it's nice to do the drills that are tactical rather than running around poles and running around the pitch.

"It's been an enjoyable pre-season, but a pre-season that we've all learnt from. We know the system a lot better, and we've just got to take that into the games now."

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