Harry Maguire hopes his goal against Atalanta is the ‘first of many’ to come

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire scored the second goal in the impressive 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Atalanta in the Champions League on Wednesday night. The English centre-back has credited the fans for inspiring the stunning comeback against the Italians on a “special night” at Old Trafford. Despite the Reds went off at half-time trailing 2-0 to Atalanta, the players were met with plenty of encouragement from the fans as they made their way into the tunnel. Maguire, while speaking to MUTV and BT Sport, praised the supporters for the atmosphere they created in the second half. 

“We got cheered and clapped off at half-time from these fans, so they made a big difference,” he said. “They gave us that energy, they gave us that belief and we got the result that they deserve. Tonight was a special night in terms of the togetherness, the spirit, the fight that we showed in the second half to keep believing and to keep pushing and like I said, the fans gave us that. The energy we felt from the fans in the second half was incredible.”

It’s my first goal of the season for the club: Maguire 

Making his first start of the season following injury, Marcus Rashford started the comeback by getting one back eight minutes after the break with a well-placed strike into the bottom corner. Maguire then found the net for his first-ever Champions League goal, with an instinctive first-time right-footed finish at the back post in front of the Stretford End.

“The first of many I hope,” said Harry. “It’s normally with my head, I’ve had a lot of chances with my head this year and I haven’t managed to put one away. It’s my first goal of the season for the club and my first goal in the Champions League, so it’s a proud moment for myself and my family who was up there watching. I didn’t really have time to celebrate, I was thinking more about getting the ball back and going on to get the victory.”

Cristiano Ronaldo completed the remarkable turnaround, netting a second consecutive winner for the Reds Devils in Europe with a towering header. Speaking about the sensational header, Maguire said, “I had eyes on it all the way, I was right behind him. His leap, his timing – it was a perfect header.”

“I was right behind it, I’ve seen it go right in the corner and I knew his timing, it’s always there – you see it day in, day out in training and the goals that he’s scored throughout his career. He’s come up with a massive goal for us again in the Champions League.”

‘That’s not good enough for this club’

Maguire, however, is not getting carried away with the remarkable comeback win. The 28-year-old took note of the two early goals conceded by the Red Devils and believes there is room for improvement. Notably, the Reds have only kept one clean sheet so far this term.

“Of course that’s not good enough, that’s not good enough for this club,” said Maguire. “We know we’re working hard, we’re working hard on a formula to be a lot more solid.

“I think in the last three or four games we’ve conceded [from] far too many set plays. I think that’s four in the last four games now so that’s something we need to sharpen up on because our start of the season was really good for defending those. It’s fine margins but we’ve got to do better, that’s not good enough for our club.”