England defender Conor Coady has responded to Manchester United defender Harry Maguire's critics.
Maguire has been on the end of criticism from United fans after an under par start to the season for his standards.
On Friday evening, the United captain celebrated his goal for England by cupping his ears - effectively sending a message to his critics after opening the scoring against Albania.
The suggestive celebration was not received well by United fans, and even a few former players, with Roy Keane labelling the move as 'embarrassing'
But Wolves centre-back Coady, who plays alongside the United captain, has spoken on Maguire receiving criticism, and what it's like to receive such messages as a player.
Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, he said: "I'll be honest with you, from a player's point of view it's tough. You don't want to be criticised and you don't want people to have a go at you.
"You want to impress your own supporters, whether you're playing for your club or country, you want to impress people as much as you can, it's tough."
Maguire was quick to defend the celebration in his post-game interview, stating that he didn't think about it and just let his emotion out after scoring an important goal for his country.
Coady today added that Maguire is an important and well-respected character in England's dressing room, and feels that the 28-year-old United centre-back will take the criticism on the chin.
He added "I can't speak on behalf of the big fella but he's a really strong character, we're all strong characters in this group.
"We know how to take criticism, to answer your question is it nice? Of course it's not, we know as footballers it comes.
"At times as a footballer, you can do one thing and someone will have a pop at you, do another thing and someone else will have a pop but that's part and parcel of being a football player.
"For us, we're big enough and ugly enough to move on with things and get on with criticism we know it's part of the game.
"Like I said, the big fella is a real, real strong character in this group, captain at one of the biggest clubs in the world and a fantastic footballer.
"He's someone who will move forward."
