You've all heard the saying: when the going gets tough, the tough get going.
If he hasn't already, Erik ten Hag could do with sticking those words on Manchester United's dressing room wall. But there's one player who won't need telling: Harry Maguire.
Once a symbol of Ten Hag's ruthless approach to the big names at Old Trafford, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, his decision to strip fifth-choice centre-back Maguire of the club captaincy in pre-season marked what many presumed to be final straw for the England international's United career.
Fast forward eight months and not only is Maguire still there, he's among the scarce amount of players who Ten Hag can rely on as he fights to save his job. That's been the case for most of the Red Devils' wretched season, as back in November after Maguire came up trumps with a goal against Copenhagen to keep United alive in the Champions League, Ten Hag called on the £80million defender and some of his team-mates to step up - and his answer has been emphatic.
When asked if his squad had enough leaders, Ten Hag affirmed: "We have such characters who can do it. I'd mention Andre Onana, Harry Maguire, Scott McTominay in such moments has to show some leadership. Bruno [Fernandes] of course. We have enough players with the character and personality to step forward in such situations and lead the team."
While the Red Devils haven't stepped forward as a group since their boss issued that plea, Maguire certainly has. His impressive individual performances - although not enough for United to avoid conceding a humiliating 70 goals in all competitions this season - have been much better than in the previous two campaigns, and he's also been vital at the other end.
With three goals and one assist since returning from a six-game injury layoff in January, the former Leicester, Hull and Sheffield United star has chipped in at decisive moments when Ten Hag has looked doomed. Take Wednesday's clash against his bottom-of-the-league former club, with the sixth-placed Red Devils falling behind in the first half in front of an apathy-filled Old Trafford.
Despite the hosts boasting a forward line which cost a combined £158.5m, it was Maguire who got United back on level terms with a well-taken header which breached the determined Sheffield United rearguard. His lack of goals from set-pieces and crosses was a criticism after being signed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but now the 31-year-old has made a significant improvement in that respect.
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But while his displays on the pitch have led to even his most staunch detractors offering up praise, it's been Maguire's attitude behind the scenes which has earned him the most plaudits. After losing the armband, being offered to the likes of West Ham and Tottenham, and having been brutally ridiculed by opposition fans for both club and country, his response has been first-class.
In September alone he was jeered by Arsenal and Scotland supporters, and that was when Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez were both still keeping him out the starting XI; while towards the end of last season Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw were ahead of him in the pecking order.
It was enough torment and strife to make even a player of Maguire's experience crack, but in a show of resilience, he simply knuckled down and took his chance when it came. Never spitting his dummy out in public or moaning on social media - as many of his current and former Old Trafford team-mates have done - Maguire has showed all the character traits of an elite United player.
That showed again on Sunday when after narrowly beating Championship side Coventry on penalties in their FA Cup semi-final clash, Maguire's first instinct was a quick fist pump and then to shake the hands of every opposition player who'd given the Red Devils one hell of a scare - unlike team-mate Antony.
"I don't think we needed to celebrate too hard," he told Sky Sports. "We let ourselves down in the last 20 minutes of normal time and to play for this club, it involves huge responsibility, and we didn't take responsibility in that last 20 minutes of the game."
Maguire has proven to be example to others and recently played through the pain barrier as United faced a shortage of centre-backs. After the 2-2 draw at Bournemouth, Ten Hag revealed: "One thing was Harry Maguire had an issue in the first half and for us he overcame [it].
"During the game, he recovered from it and you see in the second half, he was up there and then he can express his leadership, he can express his defending qualities and his [ability] on the ball."
However the Red Devils finish the season, Ten Hag could find himself out of a job come the summer amid Sir Jim Ratcliffe's shakeup. Maguire, meanwhile, has shown more than enough to give himself a sixth term playing at Old Trafford - especially if a certain Gareth Southgate proves to be Ratcliffe's man.
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