Harry Maguire praises ‘technically brilliant’ Man United teammate after encouraging performance

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Harry Maguire has heaped praise on his centre-back partner Victor Lindelof after the rather scruffy 1-0 win over struggling Luton Town at Old Trafford.

Victor Lindelof netted the winner in the Luton Town clash and the Swede’s crucial impact in the game has lifted Manchester United into sixth place in the Premier League, just six points off the top of the division, but teams around them have a game in hand.

The former SL Benfica man has come in for some heavy criticism this season as his perceived struggles have led to some members of the fanbase growing frustrated with the defender.

Well, Harry Maguire, who knows what it’s like to have critics, has been speaking about the defender after the win.

Maguire on Lindelof

Speaking to MUTV after the cruclal win over Luton before the final international break of the calendar year, the former Leicester City defender was effusive about Lindelof’s performance.

“Victor [Lindelof] is technically brilliant. You’ve seen over the years that he’s a great footballer. I’m really pleased for him, he was brilliant today,” the domineering defender said at full-time.

The pair have certainly harboured doubts from the United fanbase over their individual abilities but today, the duo were in imperious form.

On Lindelof’s goal coming from a set play, Maguire said: “Set plays are a big part of the game and today we won from the second phase of a set play. We’ve improved this year because, in my time at this club, we haven’t been good enough at attacking set plays.”

The controversial pairing

There were some moans and groans today when Raphael Varane was once again on the bench but, in his absence, the United defence weren’t stretched and looked comfortable.

The win is all that matters but the improvements recently in the defending, excluding the daft defeat to FC Copenhagen, has been encouraging.

Back-to-back victories, and indeed clean sheets, means United are the most in-form side in the division right now, despite the team’s poor performances.