Asked about players who perform below the level required in such a grand theatre as Old Trafford, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag often replies with a simple demand.

As the Dutchman likes to say, “They have to step up.”.

Two of United’s most criticised players certainly stepped up in the Champions League against Copenhagen, on a night United was honoring one of their greatest players.

In recent years, Harry Maguire and Andre Onana have been heavily scrutinized.

During the summer, Maguire lost his captaincy to West Ham United and had a bid accepted for him. While he opted to remain at Old Trafford, no one knew why he had dropped to fifth-choice behind left-back Luke Shaw.

In the first half, Maguire had some uncertain moments that did not indicate a revival.

Onana from Inter Milan cost Ten Hag £47m, and not many people know why.

In the first half, the two diagonal passes sent by the Cameroon goalkeeper straight out of play were not indicative of Cameroon’s distribution strength.

Maguire, however, managed to get on the end of Christian Eriksen’s brilliant curling cross with 18 minutes left.

With the final action of the game, deep into added time, Onana beat Jordan Larsson’s penalty to secure United’s first European win and keep their Champions League qualification hopes alive.