Harry Maguire downplayed a humorous nickname from Manchester United fans following a heroic performance against Athletic Bilbao.
Maguire starred in their 3-0 Europa League semi-final first leg victory, with the defender taking up a new position.
The centre-back pulled off an excellent dribble on the right wing before Manuel Ugarte headed his cross to Casemiro for the opener.
Speaking on commentary for talkSPORT, Scott Minto likened Maguire to United and football legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
The ex-Chelsea left-back said: “He’s picked the ball up on the right, gone past his player once, gone inside and taken him on again.
“My first thought was David Beckham, but it’s almost Cristiano Ronaldo-like.”
Speaking on the goal himself, Maguire told TNT Sports afterwards: “I found myself attacking the back post.
“I think [Alejandro] Garna[cho] passed me the ball, it was nice to do a bit of dribbling and put in a great cross.
“We had a lot of bodies in the box and they must’ve trusted me to put in the cross.
“It was a nice feeling and it was great header in the end. It’s more important the win, it was a clinical first half, professional second half.
“It’s a great victory in the end but another big game next week.”
United fans, who have heavily criticised Maguire in the past, took to social media where they gave him the new nickname ‘Harrydinho’ after his arguably surprising piece of skill.
Maguire was compared to Ronaldo after his skillGetty GettyThe defender helped make the difference in Bilbao[/caption] United are closing in on their first Europa League final since 2021Getty“I’m sure there are a few nicknames for me out there,” he said with a smile in response, as United eye up their first Europa League final outing since losing to Villarreal in 2021.
After Casemiro headed them in front on the night, Bilbao went down to ten men after Dani Vivian’s red card for a foul on Rasmus Hojlund.
Bruno Fernandes scored the penalty and put the game to bed just before half-time with a composed finish.
Bilbao’s defeat is their biggest at home in European competition ever.
It matched at 3-0 loss at the Estadio de San Mames against Werder Bremen in December 2009, also in the Europa League.
They now face a monumental task of overturning the three-goal aggregate score at Old Trafford next Thursday.
United will already be looking ahead to the Europa League final on May 21 thanks to their dominant win in Spain.
With Tottenham leading Bodo/Glimt in the other semi-final, it looks as though two English teams will battle for the trophy next month.
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