“Unbelievable” – Townsend was so shocked by Man Utd star he ‘had to look twice’ | OneFootball

Andros Townsend could hardly believe Harry Maguire was the author of the brilliant piece of skill that culminated in Manchester United’s opener on Thursday.

Despite a nervy start, the Red Devils produced one of their most convincing outings of the season as they beat Athletic Bilbao away from home in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final.

The Premier League giants took advantage of a spot-kick plus a red card for Dani Vivian to open up a three-goal advantage by half-time. The result remained unchanged until the final whistle, so Ruben Amorim’s men will be looking to finish the job next week at Old Trafford.

But while Bruno Fernandes scored a brace, it all began with Casemiro’s opener, which stemmed from a wonderful play from Maguire down the right wing.

Harry Maguire left Andros Townsend stunned

(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

The big centre-back is renowned for his physical strength and robust defending, but on this occasion, he left the viewers stunned with his dribbling skills, which set up a sublime cross to the penalty box.

For his part, Townsend admitted he had to double-check the episode to make sure this was truly Maguire behind the magical sequence and not his Man United teammate Alejandro Garnacho.

“It wasn’t just the cross, it was the little shimmies and the chops and the cutbacks,” said the former England international during his appearance on BBC Sport.

“I had to look twice because it looked like it was Alejandro Garnacho. It was so smooth, it wasn’t stiff. It was amazing. Fair play to Harry Maguire.

“We were saying before the game about what a great character he is – a big-game player who rises to the occasion and doesn’t feel pressure – and we saw it in that moment there. He was unbelievable.”

Maguire enjoying career renaissance

Maguire had been on the receiving end of never-ending mockery and banter over the past few years for some blunders at the back, but he’s been enjoying a revival under Amorim.

The 32-year-old has now re-established himself as a stalwart at the heart of the backline. Moreover, Man Utd fans will never forget his last-gasp winner in the surreal comeback against Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals.