Manchester United suffered a disappointing loss to Manchester City in the Community Shield, and manager Erik ten Hag acknowledged that the team has problems. While injuries have been a major concern, Ten Hag understands that the issue goes beyond that. As a result, United is looking to secure the signings of Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich in the coming days to strengthen their squad.
In the match against City, United was seconds away from victory when Bernardo Silva scored a header. The player he beat in the air was Facundo Pellistri, who was brought on as a substitute due to the absence of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia. Despite Pellistri’s efforts, United couldn’t hold on to the lead and suffered a penalty shootout defeat. This loss can be shrugged off, but if similar problems arise in their Premier League opener against Fulham, excuses will not be accepted easily.
To address these issues, United is closing in on the signings of De Ligt and Mazraoui. De Ligt is a highly talented defender, while Mazraoui is versatile and can play as a left-back or on the right. The expected departure of Aaron Wan-Bissaka to West Ham is also in the works. Ten Hag couldn’t provide an update on the signings, but he emphasized the need for the players and staff to work together to overcome the team’s problems.
United’s new hierarchy, including chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth, and technical director Jason Wilcox, has shown eagerness to make changes. Ten Hag expressed his satisfaction with the new structure and the collaborative work being done.
Former United midfielder Roy Keane believes that keeping key players fit is crucial for the team’s success. He also acknowledged that the squad is strong and has the potential to challenge for a top-four finish. However, he felt that United should have shown more resilience to see out the game against City.
In the match, Alejandro Garnacho made a significant impact in the short time he was on the pitch. He set up an opportunity for Marcus Rashford, who failed to convert it. Garnacho’s direct running unsettled the City defense, and he almost scored a winning goal with a low drive. Rashford, on the other hand, didn’t pose the same threat and struggled to find his form. Ten Hag remains optimistic about Rashford’s performance and expects him to score goals once he finds his rhythm.
Jadon Sancho, who faced racial abuse after missing a penalty in the Euro 2020 final, took a penalty in the shootout against City. Unfortunately, Ederson saved his shot, hitting the post. Despite the miss, Ten Hag has confidence in Sancho’s penalty-taking abilities and believes he will step up in the future.
Overall, Manchester United is aware of their problems and is actively working to address them. The potential signings of De Ligt and Mazraoui will provide much-needed reinforcements to the squad. The team’s success will depend on keeping key players fit and finding the right balance on the field.