Wednesday marked the second time that Harry Maguire has flanked Ruben Amorim for a pre-match press conference at Carrington.
The first time in January was three days after Amorim dubbed the current Manchester United team as "maybe the worst in the history of our club". United needed a grown-up to front up and picked Maguire on the eve of the visit of Rangers.
In the wake of another demoralising defeat up at Newcastle on Sunday, they turned to Maguire again. Ten players have been on European media duty this season and United have effectively run out of willing and dependable talkers.
Maguire, Diogo Dalot, Christian Eriksen, Noussair Mazraoui, Andre Onana, Bruno Fernandes, Tyrell Malacia, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Patrick Dorgu have sat in the player's chair next to the United manager.
Dalot was scheduled to sit in with Erik ten Hag in Porto but was excused after the Portuguese weather delayed United by two hours. It was his turn in Lyon.
The language barrier excuses Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro, though he was next to Ten Hag in San Sebastian two seasons ago. Casemiro is expected to be alongside Amorim in Bilbao.
Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund were certain starters against Lyon and are senior enough. But United wanted "one of the leaders". Maguire lived up to that billing last night.
"Top class," a source close to Maguire understatedly said. Maguire had a kick-about with his two young daughters and nephew on the Old Trafford pitch after the Manchester derby two weeks ago. Hopefully they stayed up past their bedtime on Thursday, what with it not being a school night before Good Friday.
The former United director of communications, Charlie Brooks, retweeted my colleague, Tyrone Marshall: "If there was a United player who deserved that moment it is Harry Maguire. Shown the kind of character you need to survive at a club like this. Criticism got too personal, but he didn’t give up and never went into hiding." At 11pm in the mixed zone, Maguire diplomatically answered a question from an outlet that has outright abused him in the past.
Every regular with an accreditation lanyard at Old Trafford has criticised Maguire at one stage. He had two torturous years between 2021-23. At the club renowned for its comebacks, Maguire has enjoyed a personal one.
"He's such a strong character," a senior United staff member said. Figures at United have noticed Maguire is a better and more authentic talker now he is not having to speak to rights holders, as is the obligation for the club captain.
More important than Maguire's rhetoric is his reliability. He has got four goals this season and all have been vital: Porto away, Leicester City at home, Ipswich Town at home and Lyon at home.
The equaliser in Porto spared United defeat in their second Europa League game. Twelve games later, they are still unbeaten in the competition. It was also an added-time header, as were Maguire's winners against Leicester and Lyon.
Maguire has matched his goals tally of last season. That is another indicator of the man's mettle. Since he was stripped of the United captaincy, he has become a United captain.
Ten Hag revoked the armband from Maguire nearly two years ago. Maguire has not only survived Ten Hag but had his contract extended. That is an achievement in itself under the penny-pinching of Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Maguire is now such a goal threat that Amorim was asked if he would consider starting him up front. "To play a normal game? No. But in these moments, it’s something that is really important.
"When I see Harry Maguire and I put Harry Maguire as a striker, I just see one guy inside the box, is he good or not inside the box? If he’s in the opposite box, he’s a striker, not a defender. He knows how to behave in that space. It’s just to put different characteristics and different moments."
Maguire was unfortunate not to get a late equaliser by the Trent in Nottingham two weeks ago. His 121st-minute winner against Lyon might have caused ripples in the River Irwell.
This correspondent interviewed Maguire at United's Beverly Hills hotel in July. Clad in the club's retro-style Adidas Originals range, he was still reeling from missing the FA Cup final and the European Championship. "When I look back, I wish I had no chance with all of them, so I could have got my head around it," he admitted.
Maguire's summer was predominantly spent in Portugal, where he underwent double training sessions under the guidance of the United fitness coach Paolo Gaudino. United afforded him additional recovery time after his calf injury, so he missed the first pre-season friendlies against Rosenborg and Rangers in Norway and Scotland.
He was more comfortable in the United regalia and more authoritative. Maguire relished the responsibility of mentoring new signing Leny Yoro and stressed the importance of the senior squad members looking out for the younger players. Maguire did that again on Wednesday, addressing the press when it was the turn of a younger teammate.
Those youngsters ran across the pitch to hug him on Thursday night.
