5 Key Points from Real 2-0 Man Utd: Impressive Newcomer; Striker Issue; Mainoo’s Injury
- Impressive Newcomer
Despite conceding two goals, goalkeeper Andre Onana did not make any mistakes in those situations. In his first match for the Red Devils, Onana displayed an incredibly impressive footwork. According to Sofa Score statistics, the Cameroonian star completed 39 out of 41 passes with an accuracy rate of 95%. Watching Onana confidently handle the ball, fans can envision the type of goalkeeper that Coach Erik ten Hag wants to have.
- Solid Defense
A consistent point throughout the pre-season is the stability provided by the defensive duo of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane. Apart from the early disputed goal (some argue that Bellingham was offside), this pair continued to fulfill their duties.
Varane and Martinez often formed a triangle with Onana to make confident passes in their own half, helping Man Utd maintain control and find solutions to break through the pressing.
- Striker Issue
As the matches progress, it becomes evident that Man Utd needs a genuine striker. Marcus Rashford was ineffective in the first half, and even when Jadon Sancho was brought in, the attack improved but lacked clear efficiency. Ten Hag understands the issue his team is facing, which is why negotiations to sign 20-year-old striker Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta are progressing rapidly.
Man Utd has offered a 60-million-euro deal and is confident of securing the young forward as soon as possible.
- Question for Ten Hag
After this encounter, Man Utd may realize that they need to put in more effort if they want to challenge for the Premier League title.
The midfield of Man Utd struggled against Real’s young stars, and moving Bruno to the right flank did not have much impact. Perhaps in the near future, the Dutch coach will need to make appropriate adjustments to maximize the potential of the players on the field.
