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Man United made it two wins from two in pre-season, with a nice victory against Lyon in Edinburgh.
Erik ten Hag will no doubt be pleased with the afternoon’s work for a young United side, who were deserved winners against Lyon in Edinburgh.
The game itself was a pretty tight affair, though it felt like United always had that edge. The sole goal of the game came from Donny van de Beek, who tucked home with a lovely volley.
Again, it was more about the fitness levels being built up than the full-time result, though it’s always nice to win football matches. It can only help the confidence grow as we edge ever closer to the serious stuff starting next month.
Anyway, enough rambling from me, let’s delve right into five things that stood out for us during this one.
Amad is still very raw
There are glimpses of his capabilities offered every single time he takes to the field, though there’s still that roughness to his game.
I don’t doubt Amad will iron out those small problems as he continues to be exposed to first-team football, though it’s easy to see why he’s not a certainty to feature for United in the 2023/24 season. If I had to guess, a loan move still feels more likely.
Lisandro Martinez hasn’t missed a beat
There are always concerns when a player picks up a serious injury. There’s question marks about whether they’ll be able to hit the same level. I know it’s only pre-season, but Licha looks like he’s never been away.
The hunger to win, toughness in the tackle and desire to play the ball forward remains. He looks sharp.
Kobbie Mainoo has it all
For a young lad, playing with the United first-team, Mainoo deserves credit. He’s barely 18 and he does not look out of place going against these already established individuals.
It would have been easy for Mainoo to hide away and just keep it simple. Instead, he’s willing to move around the field, look for the spaces and take chances. He’s excellent.
It was nice to see Jonny Evans out there
The former title winner under Sir Alex Ferguson looked like he hasn’t missed a beat. He was strong in the tackle, commanding orders to his teammates and he didn’t look like he’s lost his speed at this stage in his career.
We know this is just United trying to help out a former player, but I loved seeing Evans back out there, purely from a sentimental perspective.
Dan Gore was impressive
All eyes were rightly on Mainoo and Amad, though Dan Gore absolutely stole the show in that second half. It was his cross that helped find the breakthrough, while his overall performance in midfield was super pleasing.
He was press-resistant when in possession and always looked to find that killer pass forward. Positionally, Gore looked more than aware, while he was not afraid to carry out his defensive duties.
Well played, young man.
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