Man Utd star Harry Maguire targets Erik ten Hag with Ruben Amorim verdict

Harry Maguire hailed Manchester United's dramatic 2-1 victory over Manchester City as a significant victory under new head coach Ruben Amorim. And the 31-year-old hailed United's successful approach at the Etihad Stadium, lamenting their previous visits under Erik ten Hag.

United left their bitter rivals stunned with an incredible late comeback on Sunday night to avoid a third successive Premier League defeat.

The Red Devils trailed in the 89th minute after Josko Gvardiol turned Kevin De Bruyne's deflected cross with his head in the first half.

However, Amorim's side turned the match around thanks to goals from Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo to secure three vital points and add to Pep Guardiola's woes.

After full-time, Maguire admitted there was still a considerable way to go in their bid to reclaim their former glories.

Yet United's number 5 is convinced that inflicting an eighth defeat in 11 games on Guardiola's side sends a resounding message about their new leadership.

“We had chances, we pushed until the end and got the reward I thought we deserved,” Maguire assessed at the Etihad.

“It was a great performance to go out there, have 50-50 of the ball and have the same number of shots as them.

“That hasn’t been the case in recent years, so that’s an improvement, but there’s still a long way to go.

“Winning football matches is really important. When you play for this club, it demands winning.

“Obviously we've had back-to-back defeats in the Premier League, so to go there and make a statement is really important for our confidence and our belief of where we're going and where Ruben is going to take us.

“As I said, I’m sure it will be a positive journey.”

Maguire praised Amorim, expressing enthusiasm and optimism about the Portuguese boss's vision.

He added: “I think you can see we have a good structure, a good style of play, the way he wants us to work.

“But yeah, I think his demands, he's very good tactically. He's proven he's a winner. And, look, we're still pretty new. I think he's been here about a month now.

“But we're really looking forward to where we can go and where we can take this club, and I'm sure he'll take it in a positive way.”

Amad grabbed the headlines by drawing the foul on Fernandes' equalizing penalty before epitomizing his composure with his dagger in stoppage time at the heart of City.

And while Maguire offered his flowers to Amad, he urged as much calm as the 22-year-old winger showed in a one-on-one against Ederson when it comes to exploiting his potential.

“He's done really well this season. Look, he's still just a young boy and he's got a lot to learn,” Maguire explained.

“I'm sure he will gain a lot of experience playing in these big matches, and I'm sure he has a great future for this club.

“We are happy that he is doing well, but, as I said, there is still a long way to go. He has a big job to help us climb the table and improve this club.”