Harry Maguire joined Manchester United to play in high-pressure Champions League matches and the in-form club captain can’t wait for Tuesday night’s decisive game against RB Leipzig.
The Reds have nine points in Group H, along with the young Bundesliga club and third-placed Paris Saint-Germain, meaning a draw or win would secure our qualification to the knock-out stages.
Maguire accepts there is pressure on United in Germany, but he wouldn’t have it any other way and believes his team-mates are more than capable of getting a positive result at Red Bull Arena.
“It’s a bit similar to Leicester last year [in the Premier League], where we had to go and get a result to reach the Champions League, and we managed to do that, so we’ll take great confidence from that. But like I said, we feel ready, prepared and we’re looking forward to it.”
Maguire accepts there is pressure on United in Germany, but he wouldn’t have it any other way and believes his team-mates are more than capable of getting a positive result at Red Bull Arena.
“First and foremost, I joined this club to play in the biggest games possible, so the big players step up in those pressured games,”explained a confident Harry during Monday’s pre-match press conference. “So, for sure, over the years, the big players step up in the big games.
“It’s a bit similar to Leicester last year [in the Premier League], where we had to go and get a result to reach the Champions League, and we managed to do that, so we’ll take great confidence from that. But like I said, we feel ready, prepared and we’re looking forward to it.”
Pressed further on what was previously described as a ‘group of death’ in the media, Maguire stated this young and hungry United team does not fear any opponent.
“We expect to go into every game and win the game, that’s the tradition and that’s what this club does. I think, as a group of players, we fully look to go through this group.
“This is the last game, we’re in a good position and we are confident. We look forward to the game. The one thing we can do is look after the performance and the performance will look after the result. That’s what we’re looking to do.”
“Of course, we expect to get out of the group. Whatever teams are in our group, we expect to go through,”Harry told journalists.
“We expect to go into every game and win the game, that’s the tradition and that’s what this club does. I think, as a group of players, we fully look to go through this group.
“This is the last game, we’re in a good position and we are confident. We look forward to the game. The one thing we can do is look after the performance and the performance will look after the result. That’s what we’re looking to do.”
Knowing that a point would secure qualification, there is perhaps a temptation to sit back and play a cautious game against a Leipzig team that showed its frailties at Old Trafford last month.
Yet Maguire was quick to dismiss talk of a defensive performance in Monday’s press conference and revealed the players have already discussed our approach to the make-or-break encounter.
Yet Maguire was quick to dismiss talk of a defensive performance in Monday’s press conference and revealed the players have already discussed our approach to the make-or-break encounter.
“We spoke about it this morning: we go to the game wanting to win,”said Harry. “We went into the PSG game and, on another day, we would have won. We had three very, very good chances to go on and win that game. It wasn’t to be and now we take ourselves into the final game of the group. We go there looking to win. We look to win every game we play. For sure, we won’t be sitting back.”
WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY?
Matchday always begins with an exclusive sit-down interview with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and our latest Q&A is available to read from 09:00 GMT, providing great insight in the manager’s plans.
Naturally, we know you’re interested in team news and we can confirm the line-ups will be announced from 18:45, so make sure you're signed up for notifications from our Official App for the breaking news.
Matchday always begins with an exclusive sit-down interview with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and our latest Q&A is available to read from 09:00 GMT, providing great insight in the manager’s plans.
Naturally, we know you’re interested in team news and we can confirm the line-ups will be announced from 18:45, so make sure you're signed up for notifications from our Official App for the breaking news.
MUTV’s live coverage from Germany with roving reporter Stewart Gardner begins at 18:55 and your club channel will provide radio commentary of the 20:00 kick-off, plus exclusive reaction to the result.
ManUtd.com and our Official App are the perfect second-screen companions for the big game, too, supplying live match data from Opta and real-time insights.
Meanwhile, join us in wishing Scott McTominay and club legend Brian McClair very happy birthdays.
WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY?
Solskjaer confirmed two of his strikers, Edinson Cavani and Anthony Martial, would not travel to Germany due to injury, before we revealed the manager’s 23-man travelling squad in full.
Ole then sat down for a digital press conference alongside his captain, Maguire, which you can read a full transcript of or watch in full now.
There was also a great insight into the Reds’ final session at the Aon Training Complex, via 25 must-see images and our latest video – which features a lovely flick from Nemanja Matic!
If you’re looking for a little colour, read the full story about Bruno Fernandes setting a Premier League record for 2020/21 so far, by creating eight chances from open play against West Ham.
Solskjaer confirmed two of his strikers, Edinson Cavani and Anthony Martial, would not travel to Germany due to injury, before we revealed the manager’s 23-man travelling squad in full.
Ole then sat down for a digital press conference alongside his captain, Maguire, which you can read a full transcript of or watch in full now.
There was also a great insight into the Reds’ final session at the Aon Training Complex, via 25 must-see images and our latest video – which features a lovely flick from Nemanja Matic!
If you’re looking for a little colour, read the full story about Bruno Fernandes setting a Premier League record for 2020/21 so far, by creating eight chances from open play against West Ham.