Following Manchester United’s crucial victory against Aston Villa, Gary Neville singled out Harry Maguire as the standout performer of the match, although he acknowledged that three other players were also contenders for the title of Man of the Match.
United secured a late winner, courtesy of Scott McTominay, earning three valuable points after Rasmus Højlund initially opened the scoring for Villa. Erik ten Hag’s side now find themselves within striking distance of Villa in the Premier League standings, narrowing the gap to just five points.
Despite the win, United encountered a stern defensive challenge, prompting former club captain Gary Neville to highlight Harry Maguire’s exceptional performance while commentating on the match. The England international showcased solidity in defense and contributed to Højlund’s goal with a well-executed header from a corner.
Maguire’s dominance in aerial duels, winning 11 out of 12, particularly impressed Neville. “I think Harry Maguire won a lot of first contacts in that first half, caused a big problem for Villa and the ultimate one came when he got the header for the goal,” Neville remarked post-match.
Maguire also demonstrated his ability with crucial interceptions at both ends of the pitch, earning praise from Neville for his overall performance. Despite Villa posing a tough challenge, Maguire’s contributions played a pivotal role in securing the victory for United.
Neville emphasized that the decision for Man of the Match was a close one, with three other United players also making significant impacts.
Neville identified Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane, and André Onana as contenders for the award alongside Maguire. Dalot’s assist for the winning goal with a pinpoint cross showcased his attacking prowess, while Varane and Onana impressed with their defensive contributions.
Despite the strong performances from all four players, Neville revealed that Maguire’s statistical performance ultimately influenced the decision in his favor. “For me, it was [Diogo] Dalot, [Raphael Varane], Maguire, and [Andre] Onana that were probably the ones that I would’ve gone for out of the United players,” Neville explained, “And I was just told that his [Maguire’s] stats were better, so there you go, for the people at home!”
