Manchester United have just won their second game of the summer, here are five talking points from the game.
Sancho is a striker
With Rasmus Hojlund injured and new signing Joshua Zirkzee not travelling, many thought Marcus Rashford would be the man to take the centre-forward spot, but Ten Hag decided to go with Sancho.
Sancho immediately looked to connect with Amad and scored after just five minutes, but he was ruled offside. However, it showed early signs of promise.
Casemiro regains position
There has been much speculation about Casemiro’s future this summer, with many suggesting he will leave, especially after Raphael Varane announced he would be leaving the Red Devils at the end of his contract. However, as the summer draws to a close, the veteran remains at the club, captaining the team in friendlies.
He put in a quality performance against Real Betis, with Casemiro making some sharp passes and latching onto Marcus Rashford’s pass to put United 3-1 up. United are clearly looking to rejuvenate their squad, but in a transitional period, Casemiro’s experience will certainly help.
Next season is Amad’s
Amad Diallo is proving every day that he deserves a place in the Red Devils’ squad. He scored an important goal, helping MU win the FA Cup last season. In the summer, he scored against Rangers in a 2-0 win, and recently scored against Betis, in addition to a quality, energetic performance.
Erik ten Hag has repeatedly praised the young star and has declared that next season will be his time to shine, which is exactly what MU fans are waiting for.
The nightmare continues
Before the match, MU confirmed that Leny Yoro would be out for three months and Rasmus Hojlund for six weeks after injuries suffered against Arsenal. Against Betis, the nightmare continued when Marcus Rashford limped off the pitch after an hour. Antony, who came on as a substitute, was also unable to complete the match, although he showed no obvious signs of pain.
United’s last season was blighted by injuries, and this dark cloud is once again hanging over their heads.
The influence of Ruud van Nistelrooy
In the 40th minute of the first half, Casemiro, Scott McTominay and Christian Eriksen combined to pass the ball around the Betis midfield, allowing the Scot to finish. Although no goal was scored, the move caused Ruud van Nistelrooy to stand up and applaud Ten Hag, showing that this type of play was something they had worked on in training.
In addition, the Red Devils’ attack is very persistent and organized, the ball is passed with confidence and high accuracy. The presence of Ruud van Nistelrooy in the coaching staff brings expectations, and clearly those expectations are well-founded.