Man United vs Man City: Captain Maguire Identifies 'Key To Start Picking Up Good Results'

 

Manchester United captain, Harry Maguire, has said that 'defending set-plays' and 'keeping clean sheets' is 'the key to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men collecting good results'.

Allnews reports that an action-packed clash at Old Trafford saw Anthony Martial and Scott McTominay score for the hosts and maintain their challenge for a Champions League spot.

READ MORE: Man United vs Man City: Why We Lost Against Red Devils - Guardiola

The outcome of the match means United are now unbeaten in their last 10 games.

“We need to build on clean sheets. It is a foundation," Maguire told MUTV.

"If we keep a clean sheet, it is a cliché, but, if you keep a clean sheet, it gives you every chance of going on and winning the game.

“Eight in 10. Defensively, all season, we have not been a team that has been all over the place and conceding numerous chances. We have never been that team.

“We have conceded sloppy goals at sloppy moments. Set-plays, long-range shots, special goals but, lately, we have cut it out. We have been defending set-plays and I can tell you that is a big bonus.

“It is the key to start picking up good results and that is what we have done.”

'We know we can do better'

“We don’t want to be a team that gives up possession really easily," the erstwhile Leicester City man continued.

"In terms of the game, the way it panned out when they had the ball, we as a back-line, I didn’t feel under threat.

“I didn’t feel there was any need for me to start telling the full-backs or centre-halves to start jumping more, or trying to start putting pressure on higher up the pitch because we were 1-0 up and didn’t feel under threat in terms of them creating chances.

“But we don’t want to be a team that doesn’t have a lot of the ball. We want to be a team that controls the game, especially at home. It is something we can work on, on the ball. But they created pretty much nothing and it was a solid display.

“We dug in deep out there. Don’t get me wrong - we can play better than that. We know that. We can play better on the ball especially.

“Without the ball, we pressed them really well, the midfield and forwards ran tirelessly for the team and didn’t give them a sniff to get their head up and create a chance. The back-line defended our box really well.

“But, with the ball, we can do better and we know we can do better.

“However, it is a big win against our rivals. It is nice to do the double over them but, most importantly, it is a big three points to close the gap on where we want to be at the end of the season.”