Harry Maguire is clear that Manchester United's turnaround is not the end of the story. After finishing third in the Premier League with 71 points from 38 matches, he says the squad still needs reinforcements to cope with Champions League football and the extra matches that come with it.

Why Maguire says the squad still needs work

Maguire's bluntest point was simple. “But loads of improvements needed. We need more bodies now we're in the Champions League, we know it'll be a lot tough playing two, three times a week,” he said.

That is a fair warning. Manchester United did finish third and did do it on 71 points, but that does not suddenly make the squad deep enough for a heavier schedule. A +19 goal difference across the league season suggests progress, not a finished side.

Maguire also pushed back against any idea that third place should be treated as a stopping point. “But this is not where we stop, we need to kick on and challenge for the big titles,” he said. That is the right message for a club that wants the Champions League return to mean more than a one-year reward.

Carrick's impact is real, but the next step is recruitment

Maguire was also willing to give Michael Carrick credit for the late-season surge. He said, “Since Michael we've managed to finish third quite comfortably.” He added that United “were set nicely” before Carrick arrived, but the results improved again after the change.

The run-in backs that up. Carrick won 12 of his 17 matches in charge, and his side beat Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa during that stretch. That is a serious finish to a season, not a lucky bounce.

Maguire's point, though, is that a strong finish does not answer the squad-size issue. United have a 38-game league season behind them already, and Champions League football will make the demands sharper. If the club wants to build on third place rather than just admire it, more bodies is the obvious place to start.

Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →