There are not many players who have faced the stick at Manchester United this season as much as defender Harry Maguire and goalkeeper Andre Onana. Onana, a new signing after a great season with Inter Milan, didn’t have a great start at Manchester United as he conceded goals he should have saved, going by his standards, experience and transfer fee paid. Maguire on the other hand had a number of poor outings that saw him take the blame for unfortunate results in Manchester United’s slow start to the season. However, a strong will and the manager’s trust seem to be paying off for the duo. Manchester United are putting together a string of good results and with this consistency their Match Day odds are getting better and better. Across most bookmakers in England and across the UK, it is getting safer to stake in favor of United, and you can also make use of the good offers bookies have including the welcome bonuses previewed on Cheekypunter which compare the best football betting sites for UK punters.
Tough season
At the start of the 2023/24 season, and on the back of a tough season under Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, it seemed as if Harry Maguire’s time at the club was over. The England international was getting more play time with the national team than his club and it was agreeable by most that he is best placed leaving the club. West Ham United emerged as a top prospect for Maguire but his remuneration was always going to be a major stumbling block. Well, in the end he stayed and resolved to prove his mettle even after being stripped of the captaincy and pushed down the pecking order. Injuries to key defenders would however help Maguire regain his place in the starting team and the manager may have a selection headache when the full team recovers. His goal in the UEFA Champions League game against Copenhagen at home came at an opportune moment, the winning goal that handed them their first win in their group.
Opportune moment
Maguire’s goal came right before Manchester United conceded a penalty, which was saved by Onana, marking a great evening for the two rather underrated talents. The goalkeeper’s save in stoppage time was just the right tonic, as Manchester United fans held their breath, waiting for a win finally in the Champions League this season. The penalty save was the perfect marker to a game the Cameroonian had shown great reflexes and a personality rarely seen in his time at United so far. A great team should not concede a penalty in the dying minutes of such a game, and that is why Onana’s save, put into perspective, was a key moment, and can be the turnaround to his United career. There was definitely going to be time for Onana to settle well at United, and this is the moment he should take advantage of. With the team set to take on Manchester City in the Manchester derby next weekend, there couldn’t have been a better time to hit top form. Maguire and Onana will reap a lot from another top performance.
