The audience included a couple of battle-scarred middle-half, each wrapped up against the Manchester cold. really, harry maguirehis snood propped up high on his face, seemed better protected than steve bruceThe manager who signed him for Hull in 2014. manchester united Captain.
The role could bring special prestige to the cup finals. Bruce captained United in the 1994 FA Cup Final, when Chelsea were beaten and secured the Double, but Bryan Robson was the club captain who did not make the matchday 14. Two years later, he had the opposite experience: Bruce the old warrior was released because Eric Cantona was wearing the armband.
When Ole Gunnar Solskjaer fast-tracked Maguire to the captaincy, it promised he would lift the trophies. Instead, he missed the only final of the Norwegian’s reign; He was injured when they faced Sevilla in the Europa League showpiece in 2021. He looks certain to make the first start of Erik ten Haag’s tenure on the bench: Bruno Fernandes will lead United into another final, but this time as regular leader. If Bruce’s scars were physical, then Maguire’s scars may have been partly psychological.
Maguire did not start the second semi-final leg against Nottingham Forest when United kicked off with a three-goal lead, a further sign of how their season had turned out to be. An injury prone side could be Raphael Varane, he was sent out anyway. As the fixture list becomes tighter, Maguire may not be reselected for some time.
The visit to Forest proved to be an opportunity for one of Ten Haag’s substitutes to rest, but not Maguire: Jadon Sancho came on before him, and if explained by an offensive triple change, the return after 102 days in action had improved perception. brought change. Maguire and Sancho were Solskjaer’s two biggest buyers. Each has spent spells outside Ten Haag’s team. There may be more of a future inside the latter.
An apparent interest in Maguire from Inter Milan was rejected, with the message being that the captain wanted to fight for his place. Yet he still feels at the back of the queue for the centre-back position; Luke Shaw has been reinvented and, in a different way, so has Victor Lindelof. He accompanied Maguire, but in front of her. Ten Haag said, “He was brought up as a controlling, No. 6 holding midfielder at Benfica.” “I want my center to be in a midfield position so we can create mobility.”
He may not look like Maguire. Meanwhile, Sancho came on as number 10, a different role for a winger. Just being on the pitch was a change for a player who had not been in the squad for the last 16 matches. Injury was responsible for his absence; So, too, his mental well-being. He was sent to the Netherlands to work with coaches who knew Ten Haag. He trained alone at Carrington. Not everything is explained, probably to protect his privacy. On his return to action the targets included others. What was relevant was that Ten Haag considered them ready.
Since his last appearance, Cristiano Ronaldo, a United forward, was sent off with few regrets. In contrast, Sancho was welcomed back. “I thought it was great that the fans gave him love,” Ten Haag said. “I think it was great, his reception from the fans. He’s back at Carrington for two weeks, we see that smile and hope he can keep it up. It’s most important that the players Enjoy football, that gives energy.”
Erik ten Haag applauds fans
(PA)
Sancho’s energy was always a reason to consider him a ten hogs player. He has certain attributes – versatility, pace on the break, the ability to score and create – for the Dutchman to love. United’s attacking options have felt stretched thin in recent weeks, with their reliance on Marcus Rashford increasing. Yet another dimension suddenly became visible in Ten Haag. His manager cited Sancho’s goals against Liverpool and performances against Tottenham as proof of his potential; He has the talent to influence defining games. “He has really high standards, great abilities to contribute to our team,” Ten Haag said.
For now, Sancho looks a potentially impactful option for a manager who has often used his replacements well. “If you want to win trophies, you need them all to be available,” he said. “You can bring a different dynamic off the bench.”
And, over time, Sancho could displace the enigmatic, inconsistent Antony, if on the stronger side. Go back to the summer and he appears in ten Haag’s favorite front three. Sancho actually represented a turning point this season, ahead of Rashford in August’s win against Liverpool. Since then his seasons have gone in different directions; Ten Haag, his appetites sharpened, relished the possibility of a more frequent combination of Sancho, Bruno Fernandes and Anthony Martial.
It is likely he will not even start at Wembley, and perhaps Maguire’s position as club captain means he will lift United’s first trophy for six years. But an evening that showed just how far the defender’s star has fallen ended with hope that the forward could be on the rise again. If United, potentially ending a six-year wait for silverware, look to mark a comeback, maybe Sancho is too.