Man Utd new boy Maguire vows to ‘make this place a fortress’ after clean sheet in 4-0 Chelsea win – The Sun
HARRY MAGUIRE has called on Manchester United's defence to shut the back door on their opponents — and make Old Trafford a fortress again.
The world record centre-back was named man of the match in United's 4-0 win over Chelsea — and called on the team to improve on their two home clean sheets last term.
And it was Maguire, 26, who nicked the ball off Tammy Abraham, showing his towering strength as a defender, before starting the move that put United 2-0 up.
He said: "I was reiterating on the pitch that we need to concentrate now, even at three and four.
"We knew last season that there was only two clean sheets here.
"We've really got to make it a fortress and make it a hard place to come and score.
"So, for a start, let's not get carried away, let's keep working and keep improving."
Maguire managed a mostly full pre-season before the final week of it was disrupted with his £85million transfer.
And after admitting he was a tad short of breath following Sunday afternoon's clash, he vowed to improve.
He added: "I felt good, I've only had three or four days with the lads. I'm going to improve, I'm going to get better.
"I missed a week's worth of training last week.
"I'm still trying to catch my breath. It felt good to play in the team with such an attacking threat and we've got to keep the back door shut and we've got a chance.
"Tammy played today, he's a handful, I managed to nick that one and the attacking players went and did the rest."
Mourinho: Harry 'solid like a rock'
JOSE MOURINHO reckons Harry Maguire can be the signing to batton down the hatches at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese former United boss, who was speaking on Sky Sports in their 4-0 win over Chelsea, wanted to sign the England star last summer.
But in the meantime he lost his job in the Old Trafford dugout and his replacement Ole Gunnar Solskjaer landed the world record Leicester man.
After Maguire was named man of the match, Mourinho said: "He fully deserved the award, he was solid like a rock.
"You can be very dangerous in attack but if you feel that a mistake is around the corner it takes your confidence away and you don't play as well.
"When you feel there is something that allows you to play you are much more confident.
"As I always said Lindelof can be a very good player. With Maguire it can be a very good partnership.
"It is an amazing result.
"I must stick to my opinion: they will not be champions. But they can have a good season."
Chelsea had some good chances in the first half to put two, or even three goals past David De Gea.
And after Abraham rattled the post and Emerson Palmieri clobbered the woodwork, United looked fortunate to be ahead.
But they held on, with some brilliant fast attacking, to record the Red Devils' biggest top flight victory over the Blues since 1965.
Maguire added: "It's a great start for myself and obviously the team.
It's the first game of the season at Old Trafford so I think there was a few nerves in the first half.
"We rode our luck a little bit in the first half, we gave them too many chances, were sloppy on the ball.
"And in the second half it was a lot better, felt like we were much more ourselves and controlled the game.
"I think we fully deserved the three points in the end.
"It's the first game of the season at Old Trafford so I think there was a few nerves in the first half.
"We handled the ball well enough, gave it away in dangerous areas and they had a few chances on the counter where they maybe could have scored.
"Second half we kept the ball, we moved it nicely and with our front three you've always got a chance to score — they're so dangerous, especially on the break.
"So it's a convincing win in the end, a convincing performance and a clean sheet."
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