Tour 2015: Club America 0-1 Manchester United
It was a relief to see Manchester United back on the pitch playing but their was an exciting buzz around the first game as four new players lined up for the first time!
Two different XI would play in each half. The winning goal was scored within five minutes of his debut as ball winning midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin leaped highest at the back post to loop a header of the scrambling Club America keeper. It was a thrill seeing him score his first goal and gave United fans a much welcomed boost of happiness.
Chance then came few and far between with Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney and Memphis Depay all testing the Club America keeper. The first half performance was stuff of dominance as United remained in complete control and dictated the tempo of the match for the first 45 minutes. Schniederlin was world class in winning the ball and making tackles aswell as new Italian signing Matteo Darmian who brought an excitement going forward.
Like I said the second half XI was completely changed and it saw a more youthful look at with the likes of Adnan Januzaj, James Wlson and Andreas Pereira leading the attacking line with new signing Bastian Schweinsteiger in the centre of midfield.
United looked to be ready to raise hell in the second half as Pereira terrorised the Club Americas defence with his skill and flair. Pereira was at the heart of all out close cut chances in the second half.
Most chances were going inches wide of the right hand post with Schweinsteiger nearly getting on the score sheet however it wasn't all happy days as Club America came close hitting the woodwork and looking extremely dangerous.
In the end though United held out to claim a 0-1 win through the work of Morgan Schneiderlin who looks to have fitted right into that central midfield role!
United first Half XI: Johnstone, Darmian, Jones, Blind, Shaw, Carrick, Schneiderlin, Young, Mata, Memphis, Rooney
United second Half XI: Lindegaard, McNair, Smalling, Evans, Blackett, Lingard, Schweinsteiger, Herrera, Pereira, Januzaj, Wilson.
New signing watch:
Memphis Depay 8/10
Memphis is an amazing young talent and he showed it last night. The certain swagger and style which he brings to his play is similar to the style of many great United wingers.Although sometimes he over hit a pass or didn't make the right decision but his dribbling and flair was hugely admired.
Morgan Schneiderlin 9/10
The man who I personally was most impressed with in the centre of midfield. His tackling was accurate and hard he gained the ball effortlessly nearly every time throughout the first 45 minutes. His passing was superb and he and Carrick ran the tempo or the match. Big things are in store for Schneiderlin at United after this performance!
Matteo Darmian 8/10
Matteo was excellent in the first half his ability to overlap and go forward were a thing of joy and his defending was on display too. He proved that he is more than capable to fill that right back position permanently over competitor Antonio Valencia!
Bastian Schweinsteiger 8/10
Bastian Schweinsteiger was the only new signing on in the second half but he did what we have seen him do for Germany and Bayern Munich in the past and that is sit in front of the back four and run a match. Well in the second half he was pinging passes all around the pitch and nearly came close to scoring. He was hardly ever shrugged off the ball and dominated the tempo.
A performance to be happy about as we move onwards to our next pre season game against SJ E'Quakers on Wednesday!