Harry Maguire has sent his Manchester United teammates an emphatic message ahead of the new season.
The 28-year-old says the club need to get their hands of silverware this term after four trophy-less campaigns, the Red Devils’ longest run without lifting one for 31 years.
United kick-off their Premier League season at home to Leeds United on Saturday, a match which will not only mark his second full term as club captain, but the return of over 75,000 supporters to Old Trafford.
Maguire missed the final three weeks of the last campaign with an ankle injury but bounced back by impressing for England at Euro 2020, making the team of the tournament.
The Three Lions’ final defeat still rendered it a bitter summer for the former Leicester City defender, who was unable to prevent Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s side from losing the Europa League final to Villarreal in May.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Maguire’s determination to have a more memorable year this time around is clear.
"For this club, you demand to win trophies every season so to not win one since I've been here - obviously two years now - it's a disappointment," he explained.
"We've made progress in terms of what we've done as a club and who we can compete against - the top teams around the world - and that's where we're at now."
Maguire admitted: "Of course, this is the time when we need to start delivering.
"We need to start winning trophies because we've proved over the past couple of years that we can be competitive again."
Solskjaer has added two big names to his squad for the new season, winger Jadon Sancho and centre-back Raphael Varane (not yet fully confirmed at the time of writing).
Sancho featured alongside Maguire under Gareth Southgate at the European Championships and the Red Devils skipper says the 21-year-old can be "a real star" for United.
"I think he's been linked with us for a couple of seasons now and it felt a bit like my transfer when I was joining Manchester United, where it didn't happen one season but the following season we managed to get it over the line."
Maguire added: "I'm really excited for him, he's an exceptional talent.
"He's the type of player - with the confidence he has - who can be a real star for this club and I feel like in the future and the success we have, he can have a big part to play."
Sancho is one of a host of big-name players entering the Premier League for the new term, something Maguire is well aware of as he noted the increased strength across the division.
"I think this season is going to be more competitive than ever," he said.
"We've strengthened and the other clubs around us have strengthened as well. There's a lot of great teams in this league.
"You've seen in the past that those fine margins can create a 10-point gap from where you were last season."
The Red Devils finished 12 points behind Manchester City in 2020-21 and the Citizens have brought in Jack Grealish for £100million.
However, Maguire knows Solskjaer and co will have more than their local rivals to fend off if United want to lift a first title in nine years come next May.
"Of course, Manchester City won the league last season and they're a top team.
"They've obviously signed Jack who I know really well, he's a top player so they're going to be strong," the £80m man admitted.
" Chelsea, Liverpool too - whoever puts good runs together and remains focused - but the most important thing for us is concentrating on ourselves.
"We've got to improve on last season and we'll aim to do that."
