Ole’s impressed by leadership of magnificent Mag
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer praised the leadership skills of Harry Maguire after the captain rescued United in their FA Cup quarter-final at Norwich City.
The defender struck after 118 minutes to save the Reds from a penalty shoot-out against the Premier League’s bottom club, sealing a 2-1 win at Carrow Road and booking a place in the FA Cup semi-finals.
The captain came close earlier in extra-time when Tim Krul kept out his header and his desire to avoid the added 30 minutes was clear in injury time at the end of 90 as he made an overlapping run on the left as United searched, in vain, for a winner in normal time.
His late strike, forcing the ball past Krul while on the ground, was his third of the season and his second in the FA Cup, after his spectacular strike in the 6-0 victory at Tranmere in the fourth round.
Solskjaer was delighted with Maguire’s performance, with the captain one of only three who survived from the side that beat Sheffield United 3-0 in midweek.
“Two different goals, one you don’t expect at Tranmere, you’d expect the header to go in at Norwich but it was a fantastic save,” Solskjaer said.
“Harry’s been magnificent since he’s been at the club, his leadership skills are there to be seen. Here he won every header and made every challenge.”
United’s first goal came courtesy of Odion Ighalo, scoring his fifth goal for the club and maintaining his record of finding the back of the net in all four starts.
“He’s very important, that was important for me that we extended his loan, we worked hard to do it, Odion knows how much we value him in and around the dressing room,” Solskjaer added.
“He’s a goalscorer, a poacher, he’s strong, we can play the ball into him, he showed for the second and Paul found him.
“He’s performing well but it also gives me the chance to rotate with
Marcus [Rashford], Anthony [Martial] and Mason [Greenwood] so they can get a rest and we’re fresh for every game.”
Solskjaer is now eyeing a Wembley final on August 1 as potentially a key date in the development of his side.
“It’s important to get to the final, last year we got to the quarters in the FA Cup, we’re in the semis, at Wembley,” he said.
“I spoke about it before the game, for this team to win the first trophy and get to the first final is going to be important, it will help the winning culture.
“We’re now in the semis and we’re delighted with that.”