Mesut Ozil sends message to Onana and Maguire

Manchester United’s Harry Maguire and Andre Onana received a message of praise from former Arsenal star Mesut Ozil after their outstanding performances in a hard-fought 1-0 Champions League victory over Copenhagen.

Having faced consecutive 3-2 defeats against formidable opponents Bayern Munich and Galatasaray, Manchester United was eager to secure their first points in this season’s Champions League.

The tension was palpable as the Red Devils battled for a breakthrough, and it was none other than Harry Maguire who delivered the decisive moment in the 72nd minute.

Maguire, the England defender, scored a crucial header from Christian Eriksen’s precise cross, continuing his redemption story after a standout performance against Sheffield United over the weekend.

The goal carried significant meaning for Maguire, who has endured a fair share of criticism and backlash.

The match also witnessed an exceptional contribution from Andre Onana, who has faced intense scrutiny since his move from Champions League finalists Inter Milan to Manchester United.

In the dying moments of the game, United conceded a penalty when Scott McTominay was deemed to have committed a foul. However, Onana emerged as the hero by denying Jordan Larsson’s spot-kick.

Adding an intriguing twist to the story, Alejandro Garnacho was spotted scuffing the penalty spot just before Larsson’s critical attempt.

Following the match, Mesut Ozil, the former Arsenal and Real Madrid star, expressed his admiration for the resilience displayed by Maguire and Onana.

In a message posted on social media, Ozil wrote:

“Harry Maguire & Andre Onana deserve that – silencing their haters.”

For Andre Onana, who faced criticism for costly errors in previous matches against Bayern and Galatasaray, this redemption moment was particularly significant.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, Onana said,

“I just had to do my job, you know. I had to do it for us to win, to win against a very tough team, we had a great game. Great goal from the big man Harry, and I’m very happy; we have to continue like that.”

He also emphasized the resilience within the Manchester United team, saying,

“Of course [there’s resilience]. We are Manchester United, we’re a very big club with big players.

“So it’s just a matter of time, now we have to continue like this and we’ll get through this.”