Manchester United exceeded all expectations by defeating Athletic Club 3-0 away in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final.
Despite going into the fixture as underdogs, Man United took control of the match from early on, going on to retain a mammoth 73% possession while taking 14 shots. (Sofascore)
Naturally, their performance was sure to extract plenty of praise from spectators and pundits alike, with United legend Paul Scholes and former England international Karen Carney proving to be no exceptions.
“I think he spoke well and he sounds really happy with himself but he understands the results as well,” Scholes explained on TNT Sports, suggesting that Amorim has the wisdom required to manage his team’s temperament in the second leg.
“Going to a place like Bilbao, we all said before the game, how tough that place is to go to. They struggled in the first 20 minutes,” he added, issuing a subtle warning against becoming complacent as a result of holding such a commanding lead.
Still, it wasn’t just the manager who stood out in Scholes’ and Carney’s views.
Speaking about Harry Maguire’s cameo at right-wing, Scholes praised the defender’s “quick feet” while pointing out how well he seems to slot into any position where he is needed.
“You have to give him massive credit,” Karen Carney added, refusing to hold back her praise of the centre-back.
“I’m thrilled,” she continued explained, claiming that Maguire shone on the pitch before declaring: “I hope he enjoys his moment.”
Despite starting the match at his traditional position of centre-back, Maguire surprised onlookers as he burst up the pitch and assumed a temporary role on the right wing.
There, he appeared as comfortable as he does in his natural position, dribbling past the defender and sending in a surgical cross that resulted in United’s opening goal.
Clearly, Amorim is building momentum in his role as United manager, developing the confidence to make bold decisions such as slotting Maguire into unconventional positions on the pitch as a means of getting results.
With this commanding victory, United can go into the second leg confident that they have what it takes to make it to the Europa League final.
Featured image Clive Brunskill via Getty Images
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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.
