Manchester United’s pre-season continued in fashion with a 4-1 comeback win over Melbourne Victory.
The sport obtained off to the worst doable begin for Erik ten Hag’s aspect with Chris Ikonomidis ending a effective counter assault to provide Victory the lead after simply 5 minutes.
From ther,e United dominated the play however struggled to interrupt down their cussed opposition, ultimately turning the match round with two objectives late within the first-half from Scott McTominay and Antony Martial.
After the break it was a lot the identical, with a late strike from Marcus Rashford and an personal purpose from Edmond Lupancu making the scoreline look way more respectable, and giving additional encouragement to Crimson Devils followers after the 4-0 win over Liverpool earlier this week.
Ten Hag made ten modifications at half-time, and his centre-back choice made for attention-grabbing viewing, as Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof had been changed by Eric Bailly and Alex Telles.
Telles isn't solely linked with a transfer away from United however can be a left-back, which means that Ten Hag is readying the remainder of the aspect for the arrival of Ajax’s Lisandro Martinez.
The versatile Argentine is about to affix United for £46million and fly out to Australia to affix the pre-season tour, however given the centre-back’s capacity to additionally play as a defensive midfielder and left-back, it was unclear the place precisely he would function at Previous Trafford.
That seems to have now been answered, with Martinez prone to slot into the left-hand-side of defence, the place that has been largely occupied by Harry Maguire for the final three seasons, though he has by no means been a pure match there.
Moreover, in the course of the first-half in opposition to Victory the England worldwide performed on the right-hand-side, suggesting that Ten Hag’s most well-liked centre-back pairing can be Maguire and Martinez.
Proper-back is an space that many imagine wants upgrading at United, with neither Aaron Wan-Bissaka nor Diogo Dalot in a position to maintain down the spot.
Dalot began Friday’s recreation, however Wan-Bissaka was left on the bench as academy graduate Ethan Laird was subbed on on the break as a substitute.
The 20-year-old confirmed nice promise whereas on mortgage at Swansea and Bournemouth final season and will now play a bigger position within the first-team following an honest 45 minutes in opposition to Victory.
As for Wan-Bissaka, his time at United may very well be coming to an finish simply three years after leaving Crystal Palace for £50m.
Regardless of having 76% possession, United actually struggled to create many significant probabilities in opposition to Victory, managing simply 5 pictures on track.
There was a slight dogmatic feeling about their fashion of assault with the midfield and backline repeatedly passing sideways and resorting to creating alternatives via the full-backs and wingers.
And whereas that’s not essentially a foul factor, they lacked a correct artistic presence from the centre of the pitch, one thing that ought to be mounted if and when Frenkie de Jong indicators.
The switch saga for the Barcelona man is properly documented, however from this recreation it's clear why Ten Hag is so eager to accumulate his former protege, whose imaginative and prescient and passing vary would elevate United’s performances considerably.
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