Gothenburg played host to one of the biggest pre-season friendlies so far, as Manchester United clashed with Paris Saint-Germain at the Gamla Ullevi stadium.
Having already played three friendlies, the Red Devils went into this game with more match fitness under their belts. That put them in a better position than PSG, who had only had one friendly so far, a game that ended in a 3-0 defeat to Spanish side Mallorca.
Fitness aside, however, the European champions remain just as strong quality-wise, and were always going to pose the toughest challenge of any opponent United faced in pre-season.
There was much to pick out as United came back from a goal down to earn a 1-1 draw with the French heavyweights. Here is what we learned:
Amad looks back to his best
In the latter half of last season, Amad seemed to lose his spark. He was not as threatening as we had come to expect.
Against PSG, however, the Ivorian was a constant menace. He pressed with energy, closed down quickly, and gave the Parisians no room to breathe.
Crucially, he won the ball brilliantly in the build-up to Bryan Mbeumo’s equaliser. Amad looked fired up, brimming with confidence, and ready for the new campaign. If he maintains this form, left-backs will find him a real nuisance throughout next season.
Andrey Santos, Mason Mount and midfield dynamics
Mason Mount and Andrey Santos have struck up a superb midfield partnership, complementing each other perfectly in the pivot. As the Premier League opener against Hull City fast approaches, the question was who would join them at the centre of the park.
Yet there is concern with Mount limping off after just 20 minutes of this game with what appeared to be an injury. If serious, it would be hugely frustrating, when United fans were beginning to look forward to him being in his best form in a United shirt after an impressive pre-season.
Hopefully, his withdrawal was precautionary.
Aside from that worry, Santos continues to impress. The summer signing covers ground effortlessly, distributes crisp passes, and shows maturity beyond his years. If United fail to secure a defensive midfielder, the Brazilian is already proving he can step into that role. INEOS may well have struck gold.
Hint of a tactical switch on the left wing
Michael Carrick offered a glimpse of change by allowing Luke Shaw to make those overlapping runs, with Patrick Dorgu operating as an inverted winger.
Shaw’s marauding bursts and whipped crosses once made him a major threat, but last season he largely held his position deeper on the left. Now, Carrick seems intent on restoring that attacking dimension.
This tweak could unlock the best from Dorgu while also positioning Matheus Cunha closer to the box, where his havoc-making instincts, reminiscent of his Wolverhampton Wanderers days, can truly shine.
It is also worth noting that Shea Lacey continued to impress in the number 10 role, while Harry Maguire also had a brilliant game, playing some excellent passes. Youri Tielemans, meanwhile, finally made his debut, and Bruno Fernandes returned to action after an extended break following his exploits with Portugal at the World Cup.
Unfortunately, Tom Heaton, like Mount, could not finish the game and came off injured.
What’s next
Up next for United is a training camp in Ireland, where they take on Leeds United in a pre-season friendly at Croke Park in Dublin.
Featured image by David Lidstrom/Getty Images
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