{
  "id": 3906395,
  "title": "EPL: ‘I don’t understand’ – Obi Mikel names player that shouldn’t start for Man United again",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/epl-i-dont-understand-obi-mikel-names-player-that-shouldnt-start-for",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-28T06:12:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Post Nigeria",
    "slug": "daily-post-nigeria",
    "url": "https://dailypost.ng/2026/08/28/epl-i-dont-understand-obi-mikel-names-player-that-shouldnt-start-for-man-united-again/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "John Obi Mikel has expressed frustration with Manchester United's continued reliance on Harry Maguire as their primary centre-back, asserting that Maguire is not a reliable or suitable defender for the club. In an interview on The Obi One podcast, the former Chelsea and Super Eagles player criticized Maguire's performance during Manchester United's 2-0 defeat to newly promoted Hull City in their opening Premier League match. Mikel argued that Maguire's presence in the starting lineup is problematic, as he is not the right fit for the team's system or ethos. He called for Michael Carrick to remove Maguire from the starting XI if he hopes to achieve anything this season, suggesting that the experienced defender is too slow with the ball and fails to maintain the necessary tempo. Mikel acknowledged that Maguire could be a valuable option off the bench, but he should not be starting matches, nor should he be the primary centre-back. He questioned why Maguire has remained in the starting lineup for seven or eight seasons, expressing his own confusion over the matter.",
  "summary": "Former Chelsea player, John Obi Mikel has lashed out at the club for still depending on Harry Maguire for defensive duties, insisting that the England international has never been a reliable centre-back. He said that Michael Carrick must remove the Englishman from his starting XI if he hopes to achieve anything this season. Manchester United […] EPL: ‘I don’t understand’ – Obi Mikel names player…",
  "key_points": [
    "John Obi Mikel criticizes Harry Maguire's performance for Manchester United.",
    "Mikel believes Maguire is not a suitable center-back for the team.",
    "Mikel questions why Maguire continues to start matches for seven seasons."
  ],
  "editors_take": "John Obi Mikel's criticism of Harry Maguire signals a shift in scrutiny of Manchester United's defensive strategy, potentially pressuring manager Erik ten Hag to reconsider Maguire's role in the team.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "EPL: ‘He’s awful’ – Desailly names player that shouldn’t play for Chelsea again",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/epl-hes-awful-desailly-names-player-that-shouldnt-play-for-chelsea",
        "published": "2026-08-28T06:40:35.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}