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.
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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.