Manchester United climbed to 12th place in the Premier League standings with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Fulham at Craven Cottage yesterday.
Despite struggling to break down Fulham’s defense for much of the match, United finally found the breakthrough in the 78th minute thanks to a deflected shot that ultimately proved to be the winning goal.
While the original shot was from Lisandro Martinez, it was a deflection that sealed the deal. United then successfully defended their narrow lead to secure a crucial three points.
Martinez was recognized for his strong overall performance with the Man of the Match award. A notable contribution also came from substitute Toby Collyer, who made a crucial goal-line clearance.
However, a particularly impressive performance came from Harry Maguire. The English defender effectively neutralized the threat of Raul Jimenez, demonstrating excellent defensive prowess.
Maguire’s statistics speak for themselves: he won every ground duel he contested, along with four aerial challenges. His passing accuracy was also exceptional, completing 97% of his passes and making six clearances.
Playing in the central role of a back three, the 31-year-old was a commanding presence, losing possession only twice throughout the game. His performance earned him an 8/10 rating from the Manchester Evening News, marking him as one of the standout players on the pitch.
After facing speculation about his future at the club under previous manager Erik ten Hag, Maguire has enjoyed a resurgence under Ruben Amorim. His positioning and aerial dominance have been particularly effective in the central defensive role.
Amorim recently confirmed that Maguire will remain with the club for another season, as they have activated an extension clause in his current contract.
If Maguire maintains this level of performance, it’s conceivable that Amorim will advocate for a new contract, potentially with adjusted salary terms, to secure his long-term future at the club.
United’s focus now shifts to the Europa League, where they will travel to face FCSB midweek, followed by a home league fixture against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
