It’s fair to say the Europa League is bringing out the very best in Harry Maguire.
After the Manchester United defender’s dramatic 121st-minute winner as a makeshift forward against Lyon in the quarter-finals, Maguire produced a piece of magic to set his team on their way to a 3-0 victory at Athletic Club in the first leg of their semi-final tie.
Maguire’s dribbling skills and cross – that ended with Casemiro heading the Premier League club in front – were even likened to Brazilian legend Ronaldinho.
So much so that the 32-year-old was labelled ‘Harrydinho’, external on social media after United took a huge step towards reaching the Europa League final, which will be held at the same San Mames stadium in Bilbao.
“The shimmy, the chops, I had to look twice!,” said former Tottenham winger Andros Townsend on BBC Radio 5 Live.
The game was 29 minutes old when Maguire went all Ronaldinho to silence the home fans.
With Mikel Jauregizar in front of him, United’s number five went to the right, stopped, turned one way and then the next, then started up again, going past his opponent and delivering the cross.
Manuel Ugarte flicked it on and Casemiro arrived to nod into the net.
“What a winger! I don’t think he even knew he had that in his locker,” said Maguire’s captain Bruno Fernandes, who increased United’s advantage from the penalty spot before adding a third before half-time to give his side a handsome first-leg lead.
“Harry is a much more confident man now. When he is playing, his position is becoming more strong, he is a very good leader and we hope he keeps improving.”
Speaking on 5 Live, former United defender Phil Jones added: “I didn’t know he had it in him. To be honest I never saw it in training but fair play, great ball in.”
United boss Ruben Amorim also joined in the praise for the club’s former captain Maguire.
“Sometimes there are moments in our life and Harry has had difficult moments,” said the Portuguese. “Everything he does is good for the team, so we have to enjoy.”
And what about Maguire himself on that piece of trickery?
“I found myself attacking the back post, I think [Alejandro] Garna passed me the ball, it was nice to do a bit of dribbling and put in a great cross,” he said.
“We had a lot of bodies in the box and they must have trusted me to put in the cross. It was a nice feeling and it was a great header in the end.”
