Man Utd 2-0 Leeds Utd (Emeran 67′, Hugill 81′)
OSLO – Mason Mount impressed, Amad Diallo dazzled and the prodigiously talented playmaker Kobbie Mainoo looked ready.
But as much as this soggy workout was a reminder of Manchester United‘s promise, it also served as a thudding warning for Old Trafford’s transfer brains trust of what still needs to be done in a crucial summer window.
Every bit as ominous as the dark grey clouds that hung over the Ullevaal Stadium for most of the early evening was the glaring omission of a recognised senior striker from United’s travelling party.
With Anthony Martial as unreliable as ever, Wout Weghorst back at Burnley and Marcus Rashford working out in Portugal, Erik ten Hag deployed Jadon Sancho as a principle attacking threat. These are early days but there was little here to suggest he’s ready to assume that responsibility.
With Harry Kane untouchable and seemingly unwilling to force Daniel Levy‘s hand, there needs to be renewed urgency about United’s talks with Atalanta over Denmark striker Rasmus Hojlund. Too often in an otherwise encouraging first half it was their finishing that let down otherwise bright approach play.
Already there were signs of what Mount will bring. Braving the downpour before the game, Ten Hag told MUTV that he signed the former Chelsea man to inject much-needed dynamism into his engine room. This first look at him in red suggested he will do that and so much more for a team who can benefit from his persistent press.
Mount drove his team on for most of the contest, nearly scoring when he pounced on Jeremiah Mullen’s mistake. A chipped shot nestled on top of Kristoffer Klaesson’s net.
Intriguingly Fred, who was part of the squad that travelled to Oslo on Tuesday, was not involved at all. United insisted his absence was a precaution but doubt swirls around his immediate future, with a summer sale one viable way of easing Financial Fair Play concerns that may constrict Ten Hag’s capacity to reshape.
If he does leave, it would create a pathway for Mainoo to graduate into the first team picture and there were some seriously encouraging flashes of creativity in Oslo from the 18-year-old. Ten Hag likes his midfielders to marry grace with graft and the Stockport-born colt does just that.
He dovetailed nicely with Diallo, who has returned from his loan at Sunderland reinvigorated. The Black Cats have hopes of bringing him back to the Championship but he will surely get further opportunities in United’s jet-setting pre-season.
For all the promise, it was only when Ten Hag made eleven changes at the interval that they asserted their dominance. Off went the senior men and on came a crop of under-23s, captained by veritable veteran Charlie Savage.
Mason goes *so* close to finding an opener!
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 12, 2023#MUFC
The breakthrough came halfway through a disjointed second half via French U23 winger Noam Emeran who skipped through a wall of white shirts to the delight of the Scandinavian Reds who outnumbered their Leeds counterparts about two to one.
Joe Hugill, a 19-year-old striker who spent last season on loan at Altrincham, added a smart second to give the youthful Reds the victory their effervescence deserved.
Leeds, by contrast, were terrible. New boss Daniel Farke stood impassively for most of the match as his makeshift side, pulled together from last season’s underachievers and a crop of returning loanees, barely had a kick. He’s had a week to get to know his new charges but there is still so much to do to turn this mess of a squad into a competitive Championship outfit.
The day began with news last season’s top scorer Rodrigo was heading to Qatar with Al-Rayyan and studying the squad list felt like a convoluted game of trying to second-guess who is next for the exit door. Few would be missed.
What a mess former director of football Victor Orta has left behind, trying to build a team based on lofty principles without addressing Leeds’ more pressing need for a strong spine which would help his indulgent transfer picks flourish.
There is a lesson there for their bitterest rivals, who still look a goalkeeper and striker shy of mounting a serious attempt to wrestle the title off Pep Guardiola‘s peerless Manchester City.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/k1EKHOw
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