5/5 duels won, 96% passing, 100% tackling: this relentless player was United’s best defender by far in 1-1 draw with West Ham

Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw with West Ham United on Tuesday night, bringing an end to their four-match winning streak. It was a frustrating night for Michael Carrick’s men, who struggled to maintain possession, often being broken down by the home side’s defence while building very little attacking momentum overall. Defensively, Manchester United appeared stronger, except for a lapse in concentration from Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez, which led to West Ham’s goal. Still, there was one Man United defender who remained strong and reliable throughout the encounter. Maguire’s impact From the first whistle, Harry Maguire appeared to be a pillar of dependability for United. From the beginning of the match, he was on high alert, getting the better of Jarrod Bowen after it seemed that he had beaten the visitors’ defence. Probably the highlight of Maguire’s game was his physicality. The centre-back won both of his two attempted tackles, while making two interceptions and two clearances. What’s more, he won all four of his ground duels, while emerging victorious from his only aerial battle of the night. But it was not only his physical strength that proved impressive. A reliable defensive partner PlayerHarry Maguire Def. contributions6 Tackles (won)2 (2) Interceptions2 Clearances2 Blocked shots0 Recoveries1 Ground duels (won)4 (4) Aerial duels (won)1 (1) Dribbled past0 Key passes0 Crosses (accurate)0 (0) Accurate passes49/51 (96%) Passes in opposition half (acc.)16/16 (100%) Passes in own half (acc.)33/35 (94%) Long balls (accurate)1/1 (100%) Touches60 Was fouled2 Possession lost2 Total carrying distance213.6 m Carries20 Progressive carries1 Total progression131.6 m Progressive carrying distance18 m Longest progressive carry14.3 m Total shots1 Maguire was energetic and eager to assist his teammates, even taking a shot while on the attack. However, what was probably most impressive was just how impeccable his passing was. Maguire completed 49 of 51 passes (96% accuracy), while notably completing all 16 of his passes in the opposition half. He even completed his only long ball of the match. Ultimately, it was a holistic performance by Maguire, who proved rock solid in defence and surgical with the ball at his feet. While it was far from the team’s best performance under Carrick, the interim head coach can feel satisfied that some players, such as Maguire, have continued to step up to the occasion. (Stats via Sofascore) Featured image James Fearn via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Mathew Cohen A faithful Manchester United supporter, Mathew has worked as a football writer and analyst for SB Nation, FanSided, and now The Peoples Person. Mathew’s heroes include David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sir Alex Ferguson, all of whom played their part in creating some special childhood memories.