Harry Maguire admitted that Manchester United were "nowhere near good enough" and slammed their "slow" start against Leicester in the FA Cup.
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United were trailing until the 68th minuteZirkzee & Maguire sealed a 2-1 comeback winDefender criticised his team's first-half performanceFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Maguire found the net in stoppage time to seal United’s place in the last 16 of the FA Cup. However, it was a controversial strike, as there were questions regarding whether he was offside when Bruno Fernandes delivered the cross. With no VAR in the FA Cup, the goal was allowed to stand despite heated debates.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Earlier in the match, United fell behind four minutes before halftime after Bobby De Cordova-Reid put Leicester ahead. The hosts struggled to break through the Foxes’ defence until the second half when Joshua Zirkzee equalised in the 68th minute. With extra time looming, Maguire’s late goal proved decisive, securing United’s progression in the competition.
WHAT MAGUIRE SAID
United’s lacklustre first half prompted changes from Ruben Amorim, with Garnacho and Zirkzee coming off the bench to inject much-needed energy into the attack. The manager later complained of a lack of energy in the first half and Maguire echoed the same sentiment.
“(It was a) great finish to the game,” Maguire said. “The second half we played a lot better. The first half was nowhere near good enough, we played at a slow tempo and we didn’t really get going. He (Garnacho) made a big impact. He always does that when he comes off the bench, so credit to him, he’s ready, he’s focused.”
DID YOU KNOW?
The victory marked a historic first for Manchester United, as it was the third time they had beaten the same team at Old Trafford in a single season. The Red Devils previously triumphed 5-2 in the League Cup and 3-0 in the Premier League against Leicester, making this a rare feat in the club’s history.