Ruben Amorim hailed Harry Maguire’s winning mentality after the Manchester United centre-half transformed into a difficult winger to assist his side beat Athletic Bilbao within the Europa League.
The England defender has developed a knack for scoring crucial goals for United, often finding himself thrown up top as an emergency striker when things get desperate.
Maguire scored an exhilarating winning goal against Lyon within the quarter-finals last day trip but turned provider on Thursday night to establish United’s opener in Bilbao in the primary leg of their semi-final.
Finding himself out on the appropriate wing, Maguire left his marker in a daze as he twisted and turned his way around him, reaching the byline before lifting an ideal cross into the box.
Manuel Ugarte was first to it, nodding across goal to midfield partner Casemiro who converted from close range.
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Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal produced a sensational wing display within the Champions League on Wednesday night against Inter Milan with Maguire doing his best to channel the Spanish sensation tonight.
Speaking after the 3-0 win within the Basque Country, United boss Amorim paid tribute to Maguire’s silky wing play, praising him from bouncing back from his hardest moments in a United shirt.
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He’s a very good winger!’ Amorim said.
‘Sometimes there are moments in life, Harry has had some difficult moments in all the pieces he did where everthing he did was mistaken.
‘Now all the pieces he does is sweet for the team so he has to enjoy it.’
Following Casemiro’s opener, Bruno Fernandes scored twice as United sealed a comprehensive 3-0 win ahead of next week’s return leg in Manchester.
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