MANCHESTER UNITED’s preparations for the new season appear to have suffered a dent with defeat to Aston Villa in a friendly on Saturday.
The Red Devils crashed to a 1-0 defeat in a game that was played behind closed doors to last season’s Premier League strugglers.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s preseason with Manchester United took a hit with defeat to Aston Villa in a friendlyCredit: Reuters
Villa’s £28million club record signing Ollie Watkins got the only goal of the match, just days after arriving from Brentford.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed he was going to use the game “to give players minutes.”
His starting XI was: Dean Henderson; Diogo Dalot, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw; Scott McTominay, Donny van de Beek; Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford, Daniel James; Odion Ighalo.
But they were unable to claim a result at Villa Park in their final preseason game before they finally begin their Prem season against Crystal Palace next weekend.
A notable absentee from the starting line-up was Paul Pogba, who only began training this week with the rest of the United squad after testing positive with coronavirus at the end of August.
The result left United fans fuming online – with some demanding the club invest in more players.
Shamrez tweeted: “Absolutely embarrassing losing to villa we need a riot at old Trafford, we need more signings ffs.”
Art is life wrote: “We played a friendly a Villa and we already lost! Man U, Nawa!
While Almanuman tweeted: “Might need some more signings though, eh @ManUtd.”
And Chico said: “Our second 11 is utter garbage, who would’ve thought.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have added £40million Dutch midfielder Donny van de Beek to their ranks.
Solskjaer singled him out for his performance, saying: “Donny was maybe the biggest plus outfield.
“He’s such a finder of space and creates time for himself with his timing and movement.
“I was very happy with his performance.”
United are still unable to agree a fee for top transfer target Jadon Sancho with his club Borussia Dortmund.
Although, it has been reported that the club have resolved an issue with potential agents fees in that deal.
Man Utd announce Donny van de Beek transfer as Dutchman arrives in £39m deal
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
