MU will accelerate the preparation for the summer tour, and that can mark the beginning of a stressful personal competition when each position has only one stone.
Predict MU's starting lineup in the open friendly match against Leeds at Stockholm on July 19 is like groping the bottom of the tank. The pre -season period is an ideal opportunity for coach Ruben Amorim to comprehensively evaluate the squad and determine the strongest frame for the opening match of the Premier League against Arsenal at Old Trafford after about a month.
Some positions are almost owned, while other positions are still open, meaning that some players will be more pressure in the next few weeks. The match against Leeds was the first match in the series of 5 friendly matches of MU this summer. After that, they will go to the United States to play 3 matches before returning to the UK to welcome Fiorentina at Old Trafford on August 9.
Amorim is expected to take advantage of the season to evaluate each player in the squad, including young talents, who will have the opportunity to accumulate real battle experience. Despite the need to supplement the attack, MU does not have a plan to reinforce the defense, which is significant depth, especially in the center of the center.
After recruiting Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt last summer, then continued to bring to Ayden Heaven in the mid -season transfer window, Amorim is having a lot of options. Noussair Mazraoui, who came from Bayern in August last year, could also kick the center -back.
With other names such as Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Tyler Fredricson, Godwill Kukonki and Luke Shaw, Amorim will have to consider carefully to choose the best center -back.
Leny Yoro, who joined Lille a year ago, was almost sure after passing the early stage of injury and ended the previous season with impressive performance. Despite playing well in the left -back position, he is said to be best suited to the role of the right center -back in Amorim's 3 -person system, thanks to the ability to read situations, speed and calmness when handling the ball.
Harry Maguire had an excellent season, enough for MU to activate the option to extend the contract for another year. He aimed at the central center -back position in the defense of 3 people, but he will have to compete directly with De Ligt, who still has a lot of potential to develop even though the first season at Old Trafford has a slump.
The location of the left defender is also a big question mark. Lisandro Martinez was the number one choice, the cross -ligament trauma encountered in February made the ability to play the first season of his season left open. Despite the good recovery, Martinez still needs more time before being able to play again.
That creates opportunities for Ayden Heaven, the player bought from Arsenal for £ 1.5 million, occupying the main kick. Despite being 18 years old, Heaven has impressed with the mature form, the ability to defend firmly, good tactical thinking and especially the left foot – a rare factor in this position.
However, he will have to compete with Luke Shaw. With MU switching to a diagram with a high -back rising under Amorim, the only chance for Shaw to squeeze into the squad was the left -defense defender. He no longer has enough physical strength to take on the role of the wing and have had many injuries in recent seasons.
However, Shaw was kicked in the Europa League final show that Amorim still believed in him. Therefore, it is likely that Heaven and Shaw will confront each other in the pre -season period to win the main kick in the left -defense position in the system of Amorim.
In short, MU currently has two competitive players for a position in the starting lineup of Amorim, especially in the defense, and the one who is chosen will depend on their own performance at the summer tour.
