Peter Schmeichel has dropped the biggest compliment of all on Harry Maguire after something important he noticed about the Manchester United star’s mentality.
Harry Maguire became a key defensive figure for Ruben Amorim last season and impressed during the 41-year-old Manchester United manager’s 14-month reign.
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Harry Maguire celebrating at Anfield
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Ruben Amorim took charge at Man Utd during the 2024-25 campaign and the Portuguese coach led the Red Devils to the Europa League final in 2025.
The Red Devils finished in a dismal 15th place in the Premier League last season, but the Europa League run handed Man Utd an important lifeline for European football.
Amorim, who was sacked from his role at Old Trafford earlier this month, would fall short of major silverware after United’s 1-0 defeat to Tottenham in the final.
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Harry Maguire during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in 2026 in London, England.
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Peter Schmeichel singles out Harry Maguire’s performance in Man Utd’s Europa League final defeat to Tottenham
Harry Maguire played the full 90 minutes of Manchester United’s encounter with Tottenham in the Europa League final at the San Mames Stadium last May.
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During the final in Bilbao, the former Man Utd captain found himself playing in an advanced position amid the Red Devils’ pursuit of a crucial equaliser on the night.
Peter Schmeichel insisted that the 32-year-old United defender showed that his “full-risk mode” stood out compared with any other Red Devils player in the 2025 final.
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Harry Maguire celebrates scoring for Manchester United.
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“So, even though it looks, you know, so impossible, you’re still trying your very, very best,” he told Sunset Sports Festival.
“So, just to give you an example of how that is, when you look at that final against Tottenham, we put Harry Maguire up front because Harry is… he’s one of those culture barriers for me.
“You know, he understands Man United now. ‘I’m going full-risk mode. I’m going up there.’”
Schmeichel highlighted that Maguire stood out on the night in Spain because no other Man Utd player was matching his energy in trying to pull back an equaliser.
“Now, what is the rest of the team doing? They’re not changing. Let’s do the same thing,” he added.
“No-one’s taking the responsibility of trying to create a situation where you can score a goal.
“Harry’s up there. Get the ball up into the box. Put some more people up there. This is what Man United has always done in their most successful years.”
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Peter Schmeichel spotlights a major Man Utd ‘turning point’ under Ruben Amorim that the Red Devils never capitalised on
During his praise for Maguire, United legend Schmeichel singled out the Red Devils’ important moment in the 2024-25 Europa League tournament under Ruben Amorim.
The 62-year-old insisted that the “turning point” for the Red Devils should have been after Man Utd’s sensational 5-4 win over Lyon at Old Trafford in the quarter-finals.
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“And we have only ever seen that once in the last couple of years,” Schmeichel continued.
“And that was in the game against Lyon, when we were 4-2 down into extra-time.
“And the game seemed to be lost. And then what happened? In seven minutes, we scored three goals and won the game 5-4.
“Exactly [it felt like the Man Utd of old]. And I’m thinking there’s your turning point. Now the players understand.”
Amorim was axed as Man Utd manager and the former Sporting CP head coach has been replaced by Michael Carrick as interim boss until the end of the season.
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