Already, Erik ten Hag’s influence on Manchester United is evident.
Across a pre-season tour of Australia and Thailand, United have recorded three victories so far against Melbourne Victory, Liverpool and Crystal Palace.
Yes, the quality of opposition needs to be put into perspective, with both Premier League side’s fielding weakened teams, but there are still plenty of positives to take from the tour.
Manchester United’s preseason so far
- 12 July, Manchester United 4-0 Liverpool (Sancho, Fred, Martial, Pellistri)
- 15 July, Manchester United 4-1 Melbourne Victory (McTominay, Martial, Rashford, Lupancu og)
- 19 July, Manchester United 3-1 vs Crystal Palace (Martial, Rashford, Sancho)
Maguire expectations are high despite boos
Ralf Rangnick suggested putting the captaincy decision to a player vote, but Ten Hag was quick to confirm Harry Maguire as skipper in a typically understated fashion.
“I always see the captaincy as an issue that I dictate,” Ten Hag said.
“The captain is a really important one and I’m happy with him. Harry is really impressive and I expect a lot.”
After missing United’s opening fixture of the tour due to injury, Maguire returned to start alongside Victor Lindelof against Melbourne Victory and Crystal Palace.
In the third match, Maguire was greeted with boos as his first touch – a misplaced five-yard pass – rolled out of play. It was a “welcome” straight out of MCG manual, but one the club captain has become accustomed too.
That moment aside, Maguire was relatively composed, although it is important to remember that his role will change if partnered with new-signing Lisandro Martinez.
The former Ajax defender is much more comfortable making the progressive passes typical of Ten Hag’s philosophy.
And, with Lindelof, Raphael Varane and Eric Bailly also in their ranks, the England centre-back is under no illusion that competition for places will be fierce, whether he is skipper or not.
Where are the new signings?
Tyrell Malacia made his first start for United against Palace, but there are already signs that the Premier League starting eleven will look considerably different come 7 August.
New signings Christian Eriksen and Martinez joined too late to be part of the tour, while Frenkie de Jong could still add to the club’s roster before the window closes.
Although the line-up remained similar throughout the three games, a 31-man squad gave opportunities to a next generation of talent at Old Trafford to stake their claim for first-team action.
Ethan Laird, Zidane Iqbal, Charlie Savage and Tahith Chong all featured against Melbourne Victory, with Facundo Pellistri also in action against Liverpool.
Against Palace, Ten Hag rung the changes just passed the hour, with Will Fish and Hannibal Mejbri making their first appearances of the tour.
The former was sent off just twenty minutes after his introduction, caught out after a poor first touch left him exposed as the last man.
In truth, it mattered little, with both side’s finishing the match with a mixture of second team and youth players.
‘You construct your team around them’
Those were the words of Ten Hag when asked about Cristiano Ronaldo, a player the new manager insisted remains a crucial part of his plans, even if he is yet to speak directly to the Portuguese superstar.
“I have set my demand. We want to play a certain way,” Ten Hag told reporters in Australia, a fair trip from Lisbon where Ronaldo is currently training alone.
“The players dictate the way you play, especially players who score goals. You construct your team around them.
“A top player can contribute, and Ronaldo is an absolute top player in our squad.”
Of course, this leaves Ten Hag with a slight dilemma. Not only how to you build your team around a player 11,000 miles away from the rest of the squad, but also how to approach the situation.
Unlike his predecessor, Ten Hag has opted to remain calm and calculated, leaving the fire to simmer rather than stoking the flames.
Simply, he is hedging his bets: Ronaldo may leave of course, but if he stays, he would have to be reunited with the team – a task that hardly needs to be made more challenging.
How United have started in each match of the tour?
- vs Liverpool: De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Lindelof, Shaw; McTominay, Fred; Sancho, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial.
- vs Melbourne Victory: Heaton; Dalot, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw; McTominay, Fred; Sancho, Fernandes, Elanga; Martial.
- vs Crystal Palace: De Gea; Dalot, Maguire, Lindelof, Malacia; McTominay, Fred; Sancho, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial.
Predicted starting XI as things stand
- vs Brighton: De Gea; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; McTominay, Fred; Sancho, Fernandez, Rashford; Martial.
Mc-Fred is first choice – for now
Fred has started each of Manchester United’s pre-season friendlies, forming a partnership with Scott McTominay as the deepest two midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
He is now entering his fifth season as a Manchester United player, with Ten Hag the fifth manager to work with him at the club.
But it is perhaps under the Dutchman that the Brazilian could really start to shine in a system which rewards energetic and dynamic midfielders, capable of pressing with great intensity.
Against Liverpool, he even had the time to produce an audacious chipped finish to leave Alisson Becker stranded. It was a reminder of the quality he has at his disposal, despite what you might read on social media.
And although you would expect McTominay and Fred’s share of the game-time to be recalibrated considerably should United eventually land De Jong, they have been Ten Hag’s starters in midfield this tour.
This has meant, rather surprisingly, Donny van de Beek has had to settle for minutes from the bench (again).
The return of Martial
It is clear, the Ronaldo saga has given other players a chance to stake their claim.
And, none more so than Anthony Martial, who has started all three games of this tour, showcasing a spark that has been missing from United’s attacking play over the past year.
After a less than fruitful loan spell at Sevilla, Martial has cut a re-energised figure this tour, often leading the line ahead of a dynamic attacking trio of Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho, who have all shone as well.
The Frenchman has netted in each of United’s three pre-season friendlies, one more than he managed at two clubs in the entirety of last season.
Against Palace, he was particularly impressive, and was involved in all three goals.
His opener was in particular a finish of a player brimming with confidence, and one who looks to be a central asset in Ten Hag’s United revolution.
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