Man Utd rely on unlikely heroes Harry Maguire and Andre Onana to hang on for victory over Copenhagen

Man Utd 1-0 Copenhagen (Maguire 72′)

OLD TRAFFORD — No two players deserve that more.

Nobody warrants the vitriol that has come Harry Maguire’s way from opposition supporters, never mind his own.

Yet, in his side’s hour of need, on an emotional night as Manchester United said goodbye to its favourite son, the thick-skinned centre-back continued his surprise renaissance to head home the winner and mask yet another display that left Old Trafford with more questions than answers.

But Maguire was only able to milk the applause at the end after a beleaguered figure under even more scrutiny, Andre Onana, made a stunning penalty save, from the very last kick of the game.

Both celebrated as if the weight of the world had been lifted from their shoulders – and who could blame them?

While things did not go totally smoothly, no stone was left unturned as Old Trafford paid tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton pre-match.

There were queues to get close to the Trinity Statue of Charlton, Dennis Law and George Best outside the ground, a wreath was laid on Charlton’s seat in the director’s box and another on the pitch by Erik ten Hag, U19s captain Dan Gore and former goalkeeper Alex Stepney to a poignant background sound of a lone piper, as well as a minute’s silence.

In paying tribute to Charlton in his programme notes, Ten Hag insisted the icon was the very best of United. What the Dutchman was forced to bear witness to as the match got underway gave a stark reminder that this team masquerading as United are a far cry from the Holy Trinity years of Charlton in his pomp, Best slaloming past defenders and Law scoring goals for fun.

The Danes, without a goal against English sides in the Champions League in seven matches, really should have broken the deadlock with just five minutes on the clock, but Diogo Goncalves scuffed a half-volley onto the post.

It took until the 16th minute for the hosts to even put together an attack, with a fine ball from Marcus Rashford blazed over by Rasmus Hojlund.

The vociferous Copenhagen following were keen to practice their English and remind United just how bad they are, something even the partially sighted could witness for themselves. The fact the referee remarkably blew up for half time 15 seconds was telling.

United began the second half as they started the first – getting out of jail. This time, it was Onana bailing out the brittle hosts, clawing Lukas Lerager’s goalbound effort out.

That stunning stop finally jolted United into life, as they put together the best move of the match to create an opening for substitute Christian Eriksen, with Dane denied by an equally superb save.

Cometh the hour, cometh a man reborn. The cross from Eriksen belied the quality on show elsewhere, as did the bullet header.

Man of the match: Christian Eriksen

Only played half the game, which says more about others in red than anything else.

The knee side celebration warranted the ear-cupping one that landed Maguire in hot water with England. This time, nobody begrudged him defying his army of doubters.

After a debatable foul from Scott McTominay in stoppage time, United seemed to have shot themselves in the foot again, only for Onana to beat away the penalty from Jordan Larsson, son of former United loanee Henrik, to spark the wild scenes of celebration.

They don’t like to make things easy for themselves around these parts.