Man Utd 1-0 Copenhagen: Post-match reaction

ManchesterWorld

Our reporter Michael Plant gives his verdict on Manchester United's Champions League win at Old Trafford, with Harry Maguire and Andre Onana the unlikely heroes against Copenhagen.

Transcript

00:00 Hello from Old Trafford. After tonight Manchester United took an important three

00:04 points in the Champions League as they beat Copenhagen 1-0 in their third group

00:09 match of the season. It means that they are on three points after three games and

00:12 while they still face an uphill battle to progress to the next stage of the

00:16 competition they have at least given themselves a very slim chance now of

00:19 making it through to the next round. It was Harry Maguire of all people who

00:23 scored the decisive goal tonight, a header in the I think it's about the 70th

00:27 minute of the game from a fantastic Christian Eriksen pass into the

00:31 cross into the back post. Maguire nodded it in to give United an important lead

00:36 with 20 minutes remaining and actually United limited the opportunities for

00:39 Copenhagen in the latter stages of the game but they did earn an injury time

00:44 penalty, the visitors, which Larsen stood up to take son of former Manchester United

00:50 player Henrik Larsen. He shot a goal but Andre Ananda with a strong right hand

00:55 managed to keep the ball out. A fantastic moment for him after such a difficult

00:59 start to the season and it ensured that United grabbed three points because it

01:03 was the last kick, the last moment of the game. The referee immediately pointed for

01:07 full-time whistle and it was a huge moment for the players to say before

01:11 United as well in their Champions League campaign because I really do think if

01:14 that would have been converted and they would have drawn here tonight that would

01:17 have been the end pretty much of their Champions League run for this season.

01:21 But it was a performance that I don't think United were particularly happy with

01:24 at half-time. Really slow first half, they didn't produce much of good quality,

01:28 they were very ponderous in possession. There's a real issue at the moment with

01:31 United where they lack any kind of clear rhythm I suppose I would say or

01:37 attacking intent on the ball and they really, you know, there doesn't even

01:43 really seem a huge style, a defined style of play at the moment when they're in

01:47 possession. That was certainly the issue in the first half. Not many chances

01:49 created. Copenhagen were very organised, sat back, sat deep, looked to

01:53 hit United on the counter-attack and that worked. You have to say at half-time

01:55 you're thinking that it was just another dar and dismal display but fair play to

01:59 United, they were much better in the second half. Christian Eriksen came

02:01 on at half-time for Sofie and Amribat and United were much better after that.

02:04 De Gea of course against a Danish side but did a really good performance.

02:08 Actually won man of the match from UEFA, so good was his performance in the

02:11 second half and just gave United more of a foothold. They were better in

02:14 possession, they managed to create more chances and open Copenhagen up a little

02:19 bit. I still think there's a lot of room for improvement and I think the fact

02:21 that we're talking about how this is quite a good victory and performance, well

02:25 not a good but an improved victory and performance just says a lot about how

02:28 disappointing the season has been so far for United. So it says a lot about that

02:32 but as I say United who did to be fair limit Copenhagen. They pretty much had no

02:37 chances in the final 20 minutes and then of course they get that penalty, a

02:40 ridiculous high for Scott McTominay, definite penalty after a VAR check and

02:45 they just about got away with it United. But listen a really important three

02:48 points on a course a very poignant and emotional night here for Manchester

02:51 United. The first home game since Bobby Charlton's passing at the weekend.

02:54 United honoured that before the match with Eric Ten Hag, Alex Stepney and youth

02:59 team captain Daniel Gore walking out behind a lone bagpipe player and they

03:03 then set a wreath in the centre circle to mark his passing. Bobby Charlton

03:09 was also on the front cover of the programme tonight and there was a wreath

03:12 placed in his seat in the directors box and again a real really nice touch

03:17 actually thought from United. I was out at the Trinity statue just before

03:21 well a couple of hours before the game and there was plenty of fans there

03:24 leaving shirts, leaving messages, leaving cards, bunches of flowers, everything you

03:30 can imagine just to honour you know perhaps the most significant person in

03:34 the history of Manchester United. I know it's a big thing to say but really could

03:37 well be the case and I even saw a Liverpool shirt there which I think is

03:41 testament to Bobby Charlton and the fact that he managed to, he was a

03:45 figure who kind of transcended club rivalries and was just such an important

03:50 figure in history of English football. So a really nice touch from United

03:52 tonight and I think, I don't think I would really say tonight was a

03:55 performance that honoured his memory but it was certainly an important point for

03:59 them, an important three points for them in their pursuit of progressing to the

04:03 next stage of the Champions League. It does leave them as I say on three points

04:06 after three games, one point behind Galatasaray who are second so yeah

04:12 really important that they did manage to get that win. They play Copenhagen next

04:16 and then face a trip to Turkey so you know if United can get a win in

04:19 Copenhagen next then it's gonna really set up that Galatasaray game as an

04:23 absolutely massive match. Just one other thing to mention tonight actually that

04:26 as I'm just remembering Alejandro Garnacho came on the second half, played

04:29 really well, thought he put in a really good performance but let himself down a

04:32 little bit by scuffing up the penalty spot. Both managers were asked about

04:35 it after the, sorry scuffing up the spot just before the penalty was taken for

04:40 Copenhagen in the latter stages. Both managers were asked about that and

04:43 basically said that they didn't see it which I can believe to be honest I mean

04:47 I didn't see it at the time and I was in the ground and I hadn't even seen a replay

04:49 until the post-match press conference so yeah, a disappointing one from him. I don't

04:53 think that's something that's particularly, it's not an action that I'd be

04:58 particularly proud of myself but he actually did quite well Garnacho when he

05:01 came on and played pretty well. Sergio Reggiano was back in the side as well

05:05 tonight, an important player to have back 4-10 Hague because they've basically

05:08 been without a fit left back for the last I don't know how many five or six

05:11 games now so it's good to have him back. Raphael Varane came into the team and

05:14 started as well so look I think that the improvement, I think the positive thing

05:18 for United is that while they're not playing well at the moment and I don't

05:20 think the last three games have been particularly good, they've got three wins,

05:23 there's been a little bit more fight, a little bit more spirit. In the Brentford

05:26 game they kept in it and managed to just sneak a win at the end and then the

05:29 other two games, the Sheffield United game and then tonight against Copenhagen

05:33 they took a lead in the second half and they held on to it and actually limited

05:36 the chances for the opposition. Now I would say there's much bigger tests to

05:39 come and none bigger than Sunday in the Manchester derby when City come

05:43 here, that's gonna be a huge test and for all the optimism and the good feeling

05:46 you know everyone's talking about how great Harry Maguire is playing at the moment, he's

05:49 gonna have a real test this weekend up against Erling Haaland and Co and all

05:52 these Manchester United players are gonna have a real test, they're gonna have to

05:55 improve drastically from the performances of late. I don't have any

05:58 real confidence in them that they are capable of that, if I'm honest just based on

06:00 this season and based on what's gone before but we'll see about that on

06:03 Sunday but for tonight for Manchester United a huge three points and a nice night to

06:08 honour a great of Manchester United and of English football.

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