Harry Maguire Man United

Harry Maguire: VAR is Essential for Big Moments

Harry Maguire has called for the importance of VAR in football after a controversial penalty decision in Manchester United’s FA Cup clash against Arsenal.

With the game tied 1-1 and United down to 10 men, referee Andrew Madley awarded a penalty against Maguire for what seemed like minimal contact on Kai Havertz. To Maguire’s frustration, VAR wasn’t available in the early rounds of the competition.

“VAR would’ve overturned it, no doubt,” Maguire said. “It’s tough for referees without it in big moments like this.”

United had the last laugh, though, as Altay Bayindir saved Martin Odegaard’s spot-kick, and Joshua Zirkzee scored the decisive penalty in the shootout.

For Zirkzee, it was redemption after a tough December where he faced jeers from fans during a poor team performance against Newcastle. Maguire, who’s experienced his own share of criticism, praised the fans for rallying behind Zirkzee.

“That Newcastle game was rough for everyone,” Maguire admitted. “But seeing Josh score the winner, it’s what football is all about.”

Amorim and Rashford man united

Maguire also reflected on his journey back to form, having fought hard to regain his place after a challenging 2021-22 season. “I’m back to my best,” he said. “It’s been 18 months of consistent performances, and I feel like I’m an important part of this team again.”

Despite the victory, Maguire was blunt about United’s struggles in the league. “Our consistency hasn’t been good enough. We’re way off where we should be, and it’s up to us to fix it.”

With Ruben Amorim at the helm, United have shown they can compete with the big teams, but Maguire knows they need to step up against lower opposition. Starting with Southampton on Thursday, United are determined to climb the table and prove their quality.

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United fans will be hoping this win sparks the run of form they’ve been waiting for.

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