Manchester United packed eight pre-season friendlies into lower than a month this summer season, beginning with victory over Leeds in Olso in mid-July and ending with a draw towards Athletic Membership in Dublin in early August.
There have been additionally 4 video games in the US in between, in addition to one in Scotland and one other again dwelling at Outdated Trafford.
Erik ten Hag’s workforce finally had blended outcomes. A younger facet received towards Leeds after which adopted it up by beating Lyon in Edinburgh. The seniors then bought concerned to beat Arsenal 2-0 in New Jersey, earlier than the children misplaced to Wrexham in San Diego and additional first-team video games towards Actual Madrid and Borussia Dortmund in Houston and Las Vegas respectively additionally resulted in defeat.
There was a win within the first recreation at Outdated Trafford since final season, though it needed to be from behind after Lens initially took the lead. Solely a really late equaliser then prevented defeat in Dublin.
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Maguire was stripped of the Man Utd captaincy just a few days into pre-season. It was a choice that was to be anticipated given the centre-back’s lack of constant begins all through 2022/23 after getting unceremoniously dropped solely a few video games into the marketing campaign.
As soon as the most costly participant in British soccer, Maguire’s enjoying time in the course of the summer season is indicative that his standing at Ten Hag’s Man Utd hasn’t modified. He was a part of the second string that drew towards Athletic Membership the day after the starters beat Lens and his solely different begin got here within the defeat to Borussia Dortmund. Andre Onana additionally yelled in his face on the pitch.
Man Utd are keen to promote Maguire however rejected West Ham’s £30m provide this week.
Mason Mount grew to become a Man Utd participant in early July and, as such, was in a position to report for the very first day of pre-season coaching only some days later. The truth that he hadn’t been picked by England the earlier month on account of a minor health concern was in all probability a blessing in disguise as a result of it gave him extra time to get his toes below the desk at his new membership.
The previous Chelsea star was considered one of solely a handful of senior gamers concerned when Man Utd confronted Leeds and Lyon, earlier than those that had been on worldwide obligation returned in time to go to America.
Time to settle is invaluable in soccer and Mount has been afforded it when summer season signings in earlier years have not at all times had that luxurious.
Man Utd followers have been thrilled to see Stockport-born Kobbie Mainoo making a optimistic impression in pre-season, hoping the midfielder is likely to be the subsequent home-grown expertise to develop into a first-team star.
The 18-year-old began towards Leeds and Lyon, however tellingly stored that place when Man Utd subsequently confronted Arsenal as effectively, lining up alongside Mount and Bruno Fernandes.
He was enjoying with maturity and composure past his years and all the things seemed vivid.
Mainoo additionally began towards Actual Madrid, however issues took a flip when he was compelled off with an ankle damage solely six minutes into the sport. Seemingly on the verge of getting a daily first-team position, that unexpected setback is now anticipated to maintain the teen sidelined till 2024.
“[The injury] was actually disappointing for Kobbie Mainoo, but additionally for us as a result of he was doing good, however that occurs in soccer,” Ten Hag instructed MUTV after it occurred.
“We have now the squad and it’s important to take care of it. I hope he’ll be again shortly, we’ll assist him, however he should do it by himself. I am certain he’ll be again as a result of he is so resilient.”
Omari Forson in all probability wasn’t a reputation many Man Utd followers have been accustomed to earlier than this summer season, however the 19-year-old winger clearly made an impression on Ten Hag as a result of he stored getting possibilities.
Forson performed 45 minutes towards each Leeds and Lyon with the younger squad, and was then additionally included within the extra senior group for the excessive profile matches towards European giants as an alternative of sticking with the children to face Wrexham. That have will likely be very important to his growth.
With the attributes that he has and the potential but to be unleashed, there’s each likelihood Rasmus Hojlund turns into a home-run signing for Man Utd and the long-term striker that they’ve craved since Anthony Martial briefly threatened to be a prolific quantity 9 in 2019/20.
However negotiations with Atalanta took some time and the younger Dane could not full his switch till the very finish of pre-season. By that point, Hojlund was already carrying an damage that he suffered previous to arriving and his debut will likely be delayed by not less than just a few weeks, with out a pre-season to ease in.
Given the stress that will likely be on his shoulders anyway because of the price ticket, it’s miles from excellent.
Defeats to Actual Madrid and Borussia Dortmund weren’t what Man Utd or Erik ten Hag would have wished, with the boss referring to the efficiency within the latter as ‘unforgivable’.
However that in itself highlights the requirements that the Dutchman continues to push – ‘unacceptable’ appeared to be considered one of his favoured phrases final season as he sought to whip a beforehand underachieving squad into form. This was one other pre-season below his belt in that battle.
Ten Hag was handed new signings in positions that he wished to strengthen, together with former cost Andre Onana, a goalkeeper tipped to revolutionise the best way Man Utd play after it had develop into obvious that the fashionable recreation had considerably left David de Gea behind.
There may be nonetheless work to be executed, however the Man Utd boss has lots to be be optimistic about.
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On this version of The Promised Land, a part of the 90min podcast community, Scott Saunders and Rob Blanchette discuss Jean-Clair Todibo probably changing Harry Maguire, in addition to views on Scott McTominay, Fred, Dean Henderson and Donny van de Beek. If you cannot see this embed, click on right here to take heed to the podcast!
