Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men were far from being at their best against West Ham on Wednesday, but the 1-1 draw at an empty Old Trafford was enough to see them break into the top four for the first time since September.
United are in third spot heading into the season finale at fellow Champions League hopefuls Leicester, who slipped to fifth as their poor run coincided with an impressive upturn in the north west.
Solskjaer’s men will secure a return to European football’s top table if they avoid defeat at the King Power Stadium, with Maguire returning for the first time since last summer’s big-money move to Old Trafford.
“We’re disappointed,” the United skipper said after the 1-1 draw. “It was an important game – a very important game not to lose – but we want to win the game.
“We want to win the game, want to score goals. We have scored numerous goals of late and we started the game really well.
“We started the game on the front foot, high tempo, big intensity and we should really take the lead. And then we had a sucker punch before half-time, which was disappointing.
“Great reaction from the lads to come out second half. It was a great goal from Mason (Greenwood): great feet, great finish and nice play from Anto (Anthony Martial) as well to find him.
“But then we wanted to push on and really control the game in their half and it didn’t happen like that.
“We lost a bit of tempo, a bit of intensity and a bit of aggression and we gave away the ball far too much.
“We’ll look at it but we’re in a great position. We’d have taken this come Christmas, so we have got to take the positives but we’re disappointed not to win the game for sure.”
Asked if United are ready for one last push after a punishing schedule, Maguire told MUTV: “Well, I hope so! If you can’t get ready for the game that’s coming on Sunday then you’re in the wrong sport.
