Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel lavished praise on defender Harry Maguire following the 1-0 Premier League win over Fulham on Saturday afternoon.
The Red Devils returned to winning ways with a hard-fought victory over the Cottagers on the road. Bruno Fernandes made the difference with a 91st minute winner.
Aside from the Portuguese, Maguire was also a stand-out performer at the back for United. He won 10 duels, made nine clearances and blocked two shots on goal.
Speaking after the victory, Schmeichel said that Maguire was the best player on the pitch. He added that he was fantastic and without him, United may have not won the game.
He told Premier League productions: “The best player for me today was Harry Maguire. He was majestic. He was here, there and everywhere.”
“The adversity he has met and the criticism he has been in for and how he has turned it around.
“Every coach now will put him in first. He was fantastic and without him today I can’t see how Man Utd would have won today.”
Maguire had a difficult start to the campaign and he was largely restricted to the bench. However, injuries in the squad created an opening for him and he has become a regular starter.
The 30-year-old starred in the 2-1 win over Sheffield United last month where he was named the man of the match. He followed it up with the winning goal versus Copenhagen in Europe.
Against the Cottagers, Maguire kept the Fulham attack at bay by winning several aerial duels and making key clearances. It is unsurprising that Schmeichel picked him as his man of the match.
Judging by today’s selection, manager Erik ten Hag clearly has more trust on Maguire and Jonny Evans as a central defensive pairing. Raphael Varane only came off the bench in stoppage time.
It will be interesting to see whether the Dutchman persists with the same central defensive partnership for the Champions League trip to Denmark to face Copenhagen on Wednesday night.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com
