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da poker： This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…
It was always to be expected. After a protracted transfer saga this summer, Harry Maguire finally clinched his big-money move to Manchester United in the closing stages of the window. The England international established himself as one of the Premier League’s leading centre-halves in his time at Leicester, and you can understand why Foxes fans brought the typical boos to greet their former hero this weekend.
In Maguire’s first meeting with his former club on Saturday, the 26-year-old produced the kind of display that proved exactly why United shelled out a world-record fee for a defender. The away fans were on him from the first whistle, and it would have been so easy for him to be overwhelmed by the occasion. Instead, the 6 foot 4 powerhouse radiated calmness at the back and helped the Red Devils to a relatively comfortable win over the Foxes.
Coming up against former teammate Jamie Vardy, Maguire was faced with the task of marshalling a striker whose biggest strength is the centre-back’s biggest weakness. Pace. The script was very much there to be written for the Leicester striker to burst on to a through ball and leave the United defender for dust. Instead, the Red Devils star organised the side’s back-line and imposed his will.
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The 26-year-old registered two tackles and won four aerial duels, but it was his five clearances that really spoke of the maturity United have bought. Vardy’s notorious relentlessness when it comes to hounding opposition defenders means it will always be a dangerous task to try and play out from the back. Maguire took no such risks over the course of the game, hoofing things into row Z if needed, and bringing the ball out of defence when there was no pressure.
Speaking after the game, Maguire shared his thoughts on his performance against his former club.
“I’m really happy and not just because it was against my old team and the pressure of the game and the people talking about the battles during the game. He (Vardy) is a top player and he has done it in the Premier League for numerous years. I know, on his day, he can terrorise defences. I have seen it playing for Leicester for the past few years. It was really important we got hold of him and vital to nullify him because he is a top player.”
Maguire won more than just the battle on the pitch against his former teammates. He won the battle against the Leicester fans who booed him over the 90 minutes, and vindicated United’s decision to splash the cash.
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