Pre-season is a time for fun, relaxation and experimentation.
The chance to try new ideas without fear of damaging consequences if they fail can be of great benefit to clubs as they prepare for the full season. With any luck, they won’t be completely pointless endeavors like a penalty shootout at the end of a match regardless of the outcome.
It has been a strong start to pre-season for Manchester United. A team largely made up of reserves started the summer with wins over Leeds and Lyon and the senior stars did not disturb the atmosphere on their return. Now in the US for their pre-season tour, Erik ten Hag’s side defeated Arsenal 2-0 in New Jersey on Saturday night.
Apart from new No.1 Andre Onana not being on target and Casemiro looking on as his potential heir Kobbie Mainoo continued to shine in midfield, United’s starting XI was strong and pretty close to what you would expect to see in the first game of the campaign against Wolves. That is, of course, apart from the man running the line… or is it?
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The arrivals of Onana and Mason Mount should see United build on the significant progress made last season, but there is still an obvious void in the squad up front. That United played the majority of last season without a quality striker makes what Ten Hag achieved all the more impressive.
Cristiano Ronaldo obviously didn’t suit the manager’s style and left in a mood in December, Wout Weghorst wasn’t good enough and Anthony Martial spent most of the season in the treatment room. United lacked a spearhead, a focal point, and were it not for Rashford’s roaring return to form, it is unlikely that a Champions League place would have been secured.
The majority of Rashford’s 30 goals came when he played in his preferred position on the left flank, and although he led the line admirably when asked, it is clearly not his best position. United need a man to finally lead the line, but finding one has proved difficult.
Harry Kane was earmarked as the top target in front of the window, but United quickly abandoned what would have been a sensational signing as it became clear that Tottenham would not let their talisman go. Then the need for a midfielder and goalkeeper came into focus when an alternative was decided upon.
The alternative is Rasmus Højlund. Ten Hag held talks with the Danish star over the phone, but Atalanta will not allow their star asset to go cheap. Figures as high as £90m have been touted, which is ridiculous for a player who scored just nine Serie A goals last season, regardless of his potential.
It is also impossible for United as they only have around £22m left of their starting budget for the summer and need to raise further funds through sales. There is speculation United are optimistic they can drop the price to the £50million-£60million region, but there is still no guarantee the 20-year-old will realize his potential and be the guaranteed source of goals United require.
Even if Hojlund or an alternative is signed, United will still need more central attacking options than putting all their eggs in one basket. This summer, Ten Hag might have just found one.
With Martial back on the sidelines, the manager has been forced to deploy Jadon Sancho in a false 9 role for the three friendlies and he has done very well in the position, scoring twice. The latest came against Arsenal when he took advantage of a terrible mistake, ran the length of the half and then smashed the ball into the roof of the net.
It was a fantastic goal, showing the kind of explosive pace and pioneering United signed him for. That capped another good 45 minutes for Sancho, who is gradually building up his match rhythm and making a case for himself to play as a striker on a regular basis.
The 23-year-old is in desperate need of a good season after two disappointing campaigns, but he is down the pecking order on the flanks. Antony is the first choice right winger, Rashford the left and Alejandro Garnacho is currently the man coming into their places. Even Bruno Fernandes played wide ahead of Sancho last season, and that’s also a job Mount could do if needed.
But playing centrally could give Sancho a route into the team. He has struggled to make as much of an impact on the flanks in England as he did in Germany where there was more space for him to exploit behind the defence, but a false 9 role will see him drop deep to find that space before ideally creating space for himself to operate in after drawing the centre-backs out of position.
Sancho has also proven to be a fairly reliable goalscorer when faced with a goalkeeper after slipping in behind a defence. With Fernandes, Mount, Eriksen and Casemiro providing passes for him, playing as a striker could really suit Sancho’s abilities more than being the reverse winger Ten Hag wants.
It’s a make-or-break season for Sancho and being a striker might just give life to his United career. Ten Hag, meanwhile, will get another option up front that he desperately needs as the hunt for a No.9 rumbles on. See, far more useful than an unnecessary penalty shootout.