Harry Maguire played a pivotal role in Manchester United’s 1-0 UEFA Champions League victory over FC Copenhagen on Wednesday evening, scoring the decisive goal. Following his match-winning performance, the English defender expressed his contentment with his progress in the past year.
Maguire, who made his third consecutive start, headed home the game’s lone goal in the 72nd minute, expertly connecting with a precise cross from substitute Christian Eriksen. This marked his first goal for Manchester United since February 2022 when he found the net against Leeds United.
His goal proved instrumental in securing United’s first Champions League win of the season. However, the heroics of goalkeeper Andre Onana were also essential, as he thwarted a 97th-minute penalty from Jordan Larsson with a fantastic dive to his left.
Maguire’s outstanding performance against FC Copenhagen followed his impressive Man of the Match display in the recent encounter with Sheffield United. He has now firmly reestablished himself in Erik ten Hag’s plans and appears likely to feature in the upcoming derby against Manchester City on Sunday.
Despite facing criticism from certain sections of the fanbase, the former Leicester City standout expressed his satisfaction with the quality of his performances in recent months.
RelatedPosts
He shared his thoughts with TNT Sports, surrounded by the cheers of United supporters singing his name, saying, “This is one of, if not the most scrutinized clubs in the world, so if you’re not at your best, it gets noticed and analyzed.”
Maguire continued, “But I’m genuinely pleased with how I’ve performed over the past six to twelve months, and I’m immensely thankful for the opportunity to contribute to the team and help restore it to its rightful place.”
Regarding the victory itself, Maguire dedicated it to the memory of club legend Sir Bobby Charlton, who passed away on Saturday, stating, “It’s one of those nights where destiny was on our side. We were destined to win that game.”
He further explained, “This is the victory we wanted to dedicate to Sir Bobby and his family. It’s been a challenging week for us, securing three points at Sheffield United wasn’t easy, and the news of his passing affected everyone at the club and in the dressing room.”
Maguire concluded with a heartfelt sentiment, “We’ll miss him greatly, and I’m delighted we could secure this win in his honor.”
