Erik ten Hag Praises Harry Maguire's Performance in Victory Over Sheffield United

In a much-anticipated match at Bramall Lane, Manchester United's head coach, Erik ten Hag, expressed his satisfaction with Harry Maguire's outstanding performance in their 2-1 victory over Sheffield United. Maguire, who started his second successive Premier League game, delivered a man-of-the-match performance against his boyhood club, as the Red Devils marked the passing of Sir Bobby Charlton with a crucial three points in South Yorkshire.

Harry Maguire's career at Old Trafford had appeared uncertain after he was stripped of the captaincy and granted permission to seek a move to West Ham during the summer transfer window. However, his determination to regain Ten Hag's favor has seen him make a remarkable resurgence in recent matches. Ten Hag, who is among the frontrunners in the Premier League sack race, commended Maguire's display at Bramall Lane.

"I have to say Harry is playing like we want him to play," ten Hag said, highlighting Maguire's proactive contributions both in and out of possession. He praised Maguire's ability to dominate opponents, make timely interceptions, and read the game effectively. Maguire's performance also drew praise for his proactive involvement in the buildup, his passing ability, and his contribution to switching the play.

While Manchester United's performance against Sheffield United may not have been a standout display, they managed to secure the victory against a team that is yet to win a game this season. Scott McTominay's goal put them ahead against the run of play, but Oli McBurnie's penalty quickly leveled the score for Sheffield United before the halftime break. Manchester United found their rhythm in the second half, securing the win with Diogo Dalot's well-placed effort in the 77th minute.

For Sheffield United, the season is shaping up to be a challenging one, having secured just one point from their opening nine games. The team has been plagued by injuries, with captain John Egan and vice-captain Chris Basham both suffering significant knocks. Additionally, Anel Ahmedhodzic missed the match due to a hamstring injury, and McBurnie was forced to leave the field with a groin problem.

Regarding Ahmedhodzic's injury, manager Paul Heckingbottom revealed, "It's his hamstring. He jumped for a header in training and hurt his hamstring. He's had a scan, and it will be weeks." McBurnie's condition worsened during the match, with Heckingbottom explaining, "Oli's groin started impacting him. It was sore at half-time, and we tried taping it up, but you could see it was impacting his running. We had to bring him off because he was hindered by that but also to protect him."