In an electrifying showdown at Old Trafford over the weekend, Fulham clinched a thrilling 2-1 victory against Manchester United, thanks to Alex Iwobi’s last-minute goal.
The visitors took the lead in the 65th minute through Calvin Bassey, only for Manchester United to level the score later on with a goal from Harry Maguire.
However, it was Iwobi’s late strike that ultimately secured the win for Fulham, leaving Manchester United trailing by eight points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa.
Reflecting on the match, Maguire admitted that he could have prevented Fulham’s winning goal.
Despite being cautioned, Maguire had the chance to commit a tactical foul on Adama Traore before Iwobi’s goal, a move that could have been cynical but potentially decisive in avoiding defeat.
Maguire acknowledged the setback caused by the loss of Casemiro early in the second half, which disrupted Manchester United’s momentum.
He described Fulham’s goal as soft and attributed it to vulnerabilities in defending set-pieces, an issue they were aware of but failed to address effectively.
Despite the disappointment of conceding, Maguire highlighted the team’s resilience and determination to stage a comeback, eventually equalizing the score.
He admitted that Manchester United’s eagerness to push forward in search of a winner left them exposed defensively, allowing Fulham to capitalize on a clinical counter-attack.
In hindsight, Maguire recognized the potential benefits of a tactical foul to halt Fulham’s momentum, even though it would have resulted in a suspension for the following match.
He acknowledged some naivety in their approach and stressed the need for improvement in decision-making and game management.
Despite the loss, Maguire praised the team’s response to falling behind and their commitment to fight until the final whistle.
He emphasized the importance of learning from the experience and identifying areas for improvement moving forward.
