HARRY MAGUIRE says his team-mates don’t need the supporters to motivate Manchester United to finish inside the top four.
The Red Devils return to Old Trafford for the first time since March 8 when they take on high-flyers Sheffield United on Wednesday.
Just two points separate the teams as the battle for a Champions League spot intensifies.
It will be the first time in the club’s 110-year history that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side will play without supporters inside the 76,000-seater stadium.
But the United captain believes just playing for the badge will provide all the motivation needed to see out the job.
Maguire told the club’s official website: “One thing for sure is, every time you put a kit on with the Manchester United badge on it, you don’t need much spurring on.
“You know how big the club is, the history it has got, and it’s such a big, iconic club. If you can’t get motivated to win a game of football for this club then you’re in the wrong sport, to be honest.
“It’s disappointing not to play in front of your fans.
“But we know they’re going to be in front of their TV screens, watching us, shouting for us, and the main thing is we want to put smiles back on their faces.”
The return of the Premier League has seen just two home wins in the opening eight matches.
It has been a similar story in the Bundesliga that saw just three home wins in the first 22 matches since the restart.
And Maguire admitted that the lack of atmosphere is likely to make a difference but ultimately it comes down to those on the field.
He added: “Maybe it does take away the home fans making the atmosphere uncomfortable for the away team.
“But it’s still about the 11 players who turn up on the day.
“There is enough talent in our squad to go and beat anyone. We’re fully focused on ourselves and are not looking at it being home or away.
“We’re just seeing every game as a chance to try to get the three points and perform at our best.”
Paul Pogba is likely to make a rare start in midfield after his game-changing cameo against Tottenham.
The Frenchman, making his first appearance since Boxing Day, won a second-half penalty as United snatched a 1-1 draw in North London.
Pogba was chauffeured to training on Sunday after SunSport exclusively revealed how he had his Rolls-Royce seized by police for driving it with a French number plate.
Officers clocked the ace in his Wraith Black Badge on the M56 and stopped him when he exited near Manchester Airport.
Greater Manchester Police took the special edition motor and Pogba, 27, was loaded into the back of the patrol car on the A4538 near Hale, Cheshire.
