There was a moment in Manchester United’s game against Lyon when Matej Kovar played a pass that most goalkeepers wouldn’t dare send into midfield. It sent pulses racing through most Murrayfield races, but Erik ten Hag stood undisturbed.
That’s how he wants his side to play and that’s why David de Gea had to leave. United have agreed a deal to sign on-ball goalkeeper Andre Onana and club sources are relaxed about him joining the squad in pre-season.
Kovar produced a few audible gasps in the first half against Lyon and he was brave on the ball. Those gasps are expected to become a regular occurrence as the Old Trafford crowd are introduced to Onana in the new season.
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You need a competent ball-playing goalkeeper to play out from the back, but the outfield players are just as important. The composed Lisandro Martinez regularly collected the ball from Kovar and he was calm against the Lyon press.
After more than a decade with David de Gea, the defensive backline will inevitably have to adapt to the new style of play and it will take time. Some players need more time than others and Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s passing was a bit sloppy, although he made a crucial block to deny Lyon a goal after a number of United chances were wasted at the start of the game .
It’s certainly no secret that this team needs a scorer, and that was evident again on Wednesday afternoon. Antony returned to the side and he wasted an early chance which was followed by Amad wasting two opportunities.
United should have been at least 2-0 up inside 10 minutes and Lyon looked defensive. The French side are led by familiar face Laurent Blanc, who made his name at centre-back, but they were a mess at the back.
Jadon Sancho started down the middle, Amad started on the right and Antony on the left from the first whistle, but the attack was fluid and Hannibal Mejbri played straight back and operated in an attacking midfield role.
Although Sancho was quiet against Leeds last week, his first-half performance was better this time around. He was dangerous in tight spaces and drew the Lyon defenders in, but this season has the potential to be his last if he doesn’t improve.
The match was the first time in 13 years that the Reds have played on Scottish soil. The last visit was in 2010 when Sir Alex Ferguson led the team against Rangers in a Champions League group stage.
Kobbie Mainoo was just eight years old when United visited Ibrox Stadium on that occasion, and yet the most exciting talk among supporters on the morning train to Edinburgh was about him.
Someone on the train was overheard saying “that Mainoo works f***** good, doesn’t it?” and it already looks like he’s guaranteed to be the breakout star of the pre-season. He trusts the ball and it’s not hard to see why.
Mainoo’s passing was brilliant against Leeds and it says a lot that Martinez and Raphael Varane will be happy to play for him. He has the talent to push on, and he is understood as a well-mannered, likeable young man with a good head on his shoulders.
It’s still early days for Mainoo, but the early signs are positive and he’s doing all the right things. United fans will be hoping that he will be part of their midfield for a decade to come and he would certainly be talked about more on away trips if he does.
It is believed that Mainoo will be best specializing in a No.8 midfield role and a trip to the USA awaits him. United are scheduled to fly to the United States just hours after playing Lyon and Mainoo will have his head in the clouds.
Ten Hag is a creature of habit and he made big changes at the break, just like he did against Leeds. The difference against Lyon was that the youngsters were joined by Jonny Evans, Fred and Donny van de Beek in the second half.
Following his release from Leicester, Evans has signed a short-term deal with United to enable him to attend games in Edinburgh and San Diego, and has spent the last week training with both the academy and first-team squad.
Sources have indicated that it has benefited both parties and Evans led the youngsters out for their half-time warm-up at Murrayfield. His wife Helen, who presents for MUTV, was unsurprisingly in good spirits in the press box ahead of kick-off.
It seemed that Fred and Van de Beek being named on the bench where Hannibal and Mainoo started was a clear message from Ten Hag. Both of these players can leave the club this summer and there will be no complaints from fans if they do.
Varane handed the captain’s armband to Fred in the second half, but you’d obviously get all the odds you wanted on him succeeding Harry Maguire as captain. Bruno Fernandes is already the bookies’ big favourite.
The match was scoreless at the break and Van de Beek broke the deadlock shortly after his introduction. Dan Gore pulled a cross back for the Dutchman, who still had plenty to do, and his volley flew home into the far corner.
Van de Beek shouted in relief. Despite scoring the winning goal against Lyon, his days at the club appear numbered and a late resurgence under the manager who developed him at Ajax seems unlikely.
Isak Hansen-Aarøen and Gore were worth mentioning in an otherwise rather uneventful, typical pre-season second half. Hansen-Aarøen’s pass was progressive and neat, while Gore grabbed an assist for the only goal.
Ten Hag sat down with his coaches in the final stages and he has carefully decided which youngsters will go to the USA.
Based on last week’s evidence, Kovar and Mainoo seem certain to visit the States.