Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag, has commended Harry Maguire and Andre Onana – two of the club’s biggest targets of fan criticism – for their performance in the Champions League match against FC Copenhagen on Tuesday night.
Maguire, whose abuse from supporters had former player David Beckham reach out to him in support, headed home in the 72nd minute.
Onana, on the other hand, saved a penalty in the final seconds of the match for United’s first Champions League win of the season.
Ten Hag said defender Maguire, who was also excellent in Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League win at Sheffield United, is playing much more proactively in possession.
The manager said: “Stepping in passing vertically, defending also on front foot, stepping in defending forward, very confident in the duels, he is dominating, dominating his opponents.
“And then you see also a very good skill from him with his heading, great pass from Christian (Eriksen) as well but very good finish.”
Onana has been harshly criticised since arriving from Inter Milan in the transfer window.
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There was nothing but love for the goalkeeper on Tuesday, however, after he dived left to push away Jordan Larsson’s spot kick and was mobbed by his team mates.
Ten Hag said: “He showed personality, and he knows that before was not the levels that his skills are, he didn’t match his skills and he could do better.
“I think Saturday (at Sheffield) was a very good performance and today as well.”
The victory, which began with a stirring tribute to club legend Bobby Charlton, who died on Saturday at the age of 86, propelled United into third in Group A on three points after three games.
While United stumbled to a horrible start to their domestic season, they have won their last three games in all competitions.
Ten Hag said it was a perfect timing for a hot streak, ahead of Sunday’s derby against Manchester City at Old Trafford.
He added: “There is a great spirit and they are together and that is important always as a team, the team is more than the sum of the individuals.
“That is what we have to take into the Manchester derby … to fight together and then we have a very good chance to get a result.”
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