MAGUIRE SHOWS SOME BACKBONE
AFTER Harry Maguire conceded they were to blame for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking, this was where the road to redemption began for Manchester United’s players.
Given his recent displays, culminating in his calamitous dismissal in the 4-1 defeat at Watford that ultimately did for Solskjaer, Maguire (below) was lucky to keep his place.
His enforced absence through suspension from Sunday’s trip to Chelsea was the only logical reason caretaker boss Michael Carrick chose to pick him.
He could consider himself fortunate he did not suffer the same fate as playmaker Bruno Fernandes, dropped to the bench by Carrick who showed a ruthless streak with that call.
Solskjaer did not have the courage to drop Fernandes despite his recent loss of form.
But Carrick jettisoned him for Donny van de Beek, finally given a chance after being continually snubbed by Solskjaer.
This, though, was a huge night for Maguire, in particular in terms of his suitability to continue as skipper.
One of Solskjaer’s final acts as United boss was to insist that he had never considered taking the armband off him.
That backfired at Vicarage Road and gave credence to former United skipper Roy Keane who has long declared that the defender lacks leadership qualities.
Against that backdrop and with United in crisis, this was the time for him to step up and prove his credentials, marshalling a defence that had kept just two clean sheets in 25 games before last night.
In that aspect Maguire succeeded, United tighter and more disciplined at the back and then profiting from a defensive mistake from their opponents.
Their game-plan was to keep it tight and then seize upon their chances as the game opened up, a sensible approach from Carrick given how easy it has been for opponents to carve them open in recent weeks. David De Gea kept United in the game at 0-0 with another showcase of fine saves, especially a vital stop at full stretch just before the hour from Manu Trigueros. But after the turmoil of recent weeks and the emotional exit of club legend Solskjaer, this was a night when stability was required.
For Maguire, it was a step in the right direction.