Forest boss talks Maguire and highlights Manchester United weakness

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Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper believes he has spotted a weakness in Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United following Sunday’s 2-0 Premier League victory with Harry Maguire struggling on occasions. 

As Maguire bumbled his way through the first 20 minutes at the City Ground, Raphael Varane’s absence only made the heart grow so much fonder.  

United’s Ole-ball backline looked shakier than a house of cards in a wind tunnel early on as Nottingham Forest lobbed probing passes into the channels while firing a series of set-pieces in and around David de Gea.

That was, however, until Bruno Fernandes and the returning Christian Eriksen decided enough was enough; dictating proceedings and putting a stop to any threat Nottingham Forest posed.

Antony, meanwhile, produced by far and away his finest Premier League display under Erik ten Hag. The Brazil international scored the first before setting up Diogo Dalot’s first top-flight goal with a gorgeous through-ball. 

Nottingham Forest lose 2-0 to Manchester United

“We know that we were going to come up against a really good team with good players and a good way of playing,” the under-fire Cooper explains. “They test you tactically. And there’s not much room for error, if any.

“We saw that in the goals. Good goals from their point of view. But goals we knew we had to do better on.”

Cooper, however, believes that there are a few ghosts in the Manchester United machine. With Casemiro perhaps not yet match fit after another spell on the sidelines due to suspension, Ten Hag’s visitors were a little more open than they have liked to be, with Maguire picking up an early yellow card after getting on the wrong side of the powerful Taiwo Awoniyi.

“I think that the disappointment was that, with the ball, we didn’t take enough care with the first pass. There was a real opportunity to show a bit more composure and better technique,” Cooper adds, via Beanyman Sports.

“As good as United are they do give you spaces, whether in front of the backline or down the sides. That was the case again today but we just couldn’t capitalise.

“When we did make a pass or two, we did get into some decent areas. Taiwo gave Maguire a couple of difficult moments.”