Back in familiar surroundings, Harry Maguire took a few seconds to savour what has become an unusual sound coming from the stands aimed at him. Manchester United supporters chanted Maguire’s name as he came over to applaud them after the final whistle.
It was pointed acknowledgement that he had played well in trying times and tacit encouragement to keep going.
Bramall Lane’s away section is packed tight at pitch level, the ideal environment for conveying direct feedback to players. Defeat to Premier League bottom-club Sheffield United for the visitors there last night would have provoked a cold reaction. But, despite the difficult nature of the 2-1 away victory, there was warmth.
Before kick-off, Maguire had also been clapped keenly by the home fans when the stadium announcer confirmed his place in the starting XI.
Maguire was at Sheffield United from age seven to 21 as the Yorkshire club toiled in the second and third tiers of English football. He achieved national attention when playing at Bramall Lane in the 2011 FA Youth Cup final against a Manchester United side featuring Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard. They remember him fondly here.
It has been a long time since Maguire received such universal approval.
Recently, his appearances have been punctuated by the exact opposite. He was booed by his own fans on pre-season tours, mocked by Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Scotland supporters this campaign, jeered by England crowds at various points when representing his country.
It takes a resilient mind to come through all that and, although beating a team with one point from their last eight matches by the odd goal should not be the barometer for Manchester United, Maguire’s display was a reminder for Erik ten Hag that he is a very capable player.
Maguire made 76 accurate passes, the most by any player on the pitch (his team-mate Sofyan Amrabat was a distant second on 56), and while that is not in itself a gauge of a positive contribution, the way he used the ball was reason for his being voted last night’s man of the match.
Industrious. Determined. Resolute.
Well played tonight, @HarryMaguire93 👏🧱#MUFC #SHUMUN pic.twitter.com/D2lwZLEZhb — Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 21, 2023
Against a Sheffield United defence that predominantly sat deep, he pushed the initiative and tried to probe. An example came early on, as Ten Hag’s team struggled with their build-up, when he paused on the ball at the back long enough for Antony to drop into space between Sheffield United’s midfield and defence. Maguire then punched a pass in to him and the visitors were on the attack.
There were also switches of play that got his team moving, with Maguire making 13 successful long passes, the most by anyone in the eight Premier League matches played on Saturday. One, in the first half, should have found Marcus Rashford in a good position. Maguire sprayed a pass from right to left but the bounce of the ball evaded the forward, who recognised his team-mate’s attempt with a thumbs-up.
Maguire was also on the front foot out of possession, snapping in to win the ball from behind Sheffield United attackers. One sequence involved him stealing in ahead of Cameron Archer by the touchline and outmuscling his opponent, before receiving a crunching tackle from Vinicius Souza that appeared to crumple his ankle. Maguire carried on without treatment.
“He is playing like we want him to play,” said Ten Hag. “Very proactive. Out of possession, dominating his opponent, stepping in where necessary, reading the game, covering, but also in possession, very proactive, delivering good passing, vertical passing, good switches. Yeah, I am happy with his performance.”
Maguire, as expected, used his head to good effect, winning five aerial duels — the joint-most by any player in the match. His desire to clear balls in the air was especially evident late in the second half, as Manchester United protected their 2-1 lead.
It was, of course, Maguire’s aptitude in this department that saved his team at the other end of the pitch in their previous game against Brentford — he was the one who bullied his way to winning the long free kick from Bruno Fernandes that Scott McTominay converted for a dramatic, deciding goal.
Maguire and Diogo Dalot embrace after beating Sheffield United (James Gill via Getty Images)
Perhaps this was in his thoughts as he moved forward and stayed there in the first half at Bramall Lane as Manchester United attacked. Maguire, with his hand up, positioned himself at the far edge of the box as the visitors had the ball on the left. He shifted to the other side when the ball came right.
Fellow centre-back Jonny Evans had earlier charged forwards after turning over possession at the edge of Manchester United’s area, so it seemed a deliberate tactic to allow defenders to join in with attacks. Ten Hag wanted movement from his players, but said the sight of centre-backs as the most advanced players was too much. “We had some constructions first half, we wanted to play very dynamic, but in the first half we were overreacting on that fact,” he explained. “That was over the top. We corrected during half-time, so you saw more control.”
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Manchester United’s instincts to go direct even before the interval appear to betray a lack of confidence in being able to score the conventional way. Diogo Dalot’s brilliant strike means Ten Hag’s defenders have now scored more Premier League goals than attackers this season, two to one. Raphael Varane has one goal, so does Rashford.
Defenders have also contributed five assists, compared to two from the attackers (both by Rashford). Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Lisandro Martinez, Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof and Maguire have all set up a Premier League goal, something which Rasmus Hojlund, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho, Anthony Martial, not to mention Jadon Sancho, are yet to do. That is a balance Ten Hag must remedy.
In the meantime, Maguire’s record goes on.
He opened himself up to the critics by saying his win percentage under Ten Hag is “ridiculously high” and, under scrutiny, he must feel he needs to make the point. He has now won all eight of his Premier League starts in the last 12 months. The last time Manchester United did not win with him starting in the Premier League was the 4-0 loss to Brentford in Ten Hag’s second game as their manager 14 months ago.
He would now be expected to start at home to Manchester City in the next Premier League game a week today (Sunday), which is quite the turnaround from this summer, when his exit from Old Trafford appeared inevitable amid friction behind the scenes. West Ham United had an offer accepted but Maguire did not agree to leave. A deal taking him to east London would have required Manchester United to bridge the gap on his wages, from £190,000 per week to around £120,000.
So Maguire stayed, conscious of how things fluctuate in football, and injuries have given him a chance.
He was on the bench as Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof started the win over City in the same fixture in January. Circumstances have brought him back into contention, but he has done enough to justify he retains his place against a manager in Pep Guardiola who once tried to buy him.
(Top photo: Darren Staples/AFP via Getty Images)
