5 changes Mourinho must make in the game against Real Madrid for United to succeed

Manchester United’s pre-season has not been going according to plan. United have won only one of the four games played and that was in an extended penalty shootout. United have drawn two and lost one so far. They have offered very little hope in attack, scoring three goals and conceding five.

Of their new signings, only Lee Grant has been extensively involved and he has minimal chances of being involved in the upcoming season. Diego Dalot is injured and hence was not involved. Fred, part of the Brazil squad that was involved in the World Cup, joined the team only recently and played 20 minutes against Liverpool.

Of the rest of the United players involved in the World Cup, David De Gea and Nemanja Matic have joined up with the team at the United States, but the Serbian is injured. None of the many rumoured transfer targets have joined the United squad yet, and the Red Devils’ pre-season tour of the United States pretty much looks in shambles. Mourinho, with his frown growing larger with every passing day, can be forgiven for being a little cranky.

Manchester United face Real Madrid in their next pre-season game, and unless Mourinho makes a few changes in the team and the playing style, Manchester United could be in deep waters again. Since he is tied up with a thin squad and does not have too many options, here are five steps he could take to ensure United have a chance to end their US tour on a positive note.

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#5 Stick with Luke Shaw

Mourinho must seriously consider Luke Shaw for the Left Back role

United do not have anyone better in the pre-season squad, and by the looks of their transfer business so far, no one better will be joining the Red Devils in the summer transfer window. That leaves the Special One with only Ashley Young and Luke Shaw for that left back position.

Shaw has shown promise in the pre-season and can play both as a wing back in a 3-5-2 and as the left back in a 4-4-2. Mourinho should stick with Shaw and provide some familiarity in the United defense. Shaw has been defensively strong so far, while being stable in attack as well. If he regains his confidence, it would do Manchester United a lot of good in the 2018/19 season and who knows, he might finally come good. As such, it is in Mourinho’s best interest that he invest his time and energy on Luke Shaw.

#4 Keep Sanchez higher up on the pitch

Sanchez has looked good in Pre-season, but needs assistance from Mourinho to flourish

In absence of a proper striker, Mourinho has been using Sanchez as a number nine, and the Chilean has adapted his game well. But against, Liverpool, Mourinho asked Sanchez to track back and help out in the midfield. This allowed the Liverpool defense to play without pressure and also left Sanchez with a lot of ground to cover while attacking.

This has to change in the next game. Sanchez has to stay where he can receive the ball and run at the defense with the goal in sight. This will cause the opposition to be wary of his position and also provide a target for United’s creative players like Andreas Pereira to have a target to aim their balls to, making their counter attacks more efficient.

Sanchez should be in a position where he can influence the game and he can then bring players into the game and cause the opposition defense all kinds of trouble. Having Sanchez play so deep is a misuse of his attacking talents and Mourinho must rectify this immediately.

#3 Give Andreas Pereira more freedom to attack

Pereira has gone from strength to strength in Pre-season

Pereira was burdened with defensive duties in the game against Liverpool, but the few times he broke free, his quality was there for everyone to see. He has had a brilliant pre-season so far and Mourinho will be counting on him for some part in the first team next season. He could be United’s secret weapon this season, he could be like a new signing who makes United better.

But he requires the support of his midfield partners to have a strong influence in the game. McTominay performed amicably last season, but has looked like a completely different player in pre-season so far. Mourinho would be wise not to pile more pressure on the youngster and should give him a rest.

If Chris Smalling is fit, Axel Tuanzebe could be brought in to provide steel in the midfield along with Ander Herrera and free up Pereira to play his natural game. An alternative could be new signing Fred, but a lot will depend on his fitness levels, since he was injured right before the start of the World Cup.

Matic’s injury has already opened up a space in the midfield for start of the season. Mourinho would be wise to start planning ahead and should concentrate on building his midfield around Andreas Pereira, at least for now.

#2 Provide legs on the wings

Fosu-Mensah will be ideal for the Wingback or Right back role in absence of Valencia

Just like the left wing, the right wing in the Liverpool game was not very effective. Matteo Darmian was very poor as a wing back and considering that Chris Smalling might not recover in time to start the next game, Mourinho needs to shuffle his defence to provide rigidity in the middle and fluency along the sides.

Since Mourinho does not have too many out and out wingers, he will be looking for his full backs to provide width down the sides. If he sticks to a 3-5-2, Darmian would be better off as one of the three centerbacks. That way, his lack of speed will not be highlighted and he will have Eric Bailly to cover for him. And in the Italian’s place, Mourinho should contemplate using Timothy Fosu-Mensah.

Fosu-Mensah has the speed and strength to emulate Antonio Valencia, who is injured and might not return in time for the opener against Leicester City. As such, the youngster should start as a full back, instead of as a centre back. He has the defensive core that Mourinho desires and his pace will pin back the opposition defense and he might even capitalize on the spaces that open up in the counter. Also, like Luke Shaw, he will be an option for the midfield to spread the ball and he should do a better job than the static Darmian on the flanks.

#1 Give the youngsters a little more game time

United fans deserve to see Chong involved for a longer time in the game

This game will not make or break United’s season, rather, it should provide Mourinho an opportunity to assess his squad ahead of the upcoming season. With the pre-season games coming in quick succession – the upcoming one will be United’s 5th game in 13 days – Mourinho will be well advised to bring in fresh faces and mix it up in the second half, and provide his experienced campaigners a breather.

Angel Gomes and Tahith Chong deserve some more game time and it would also excite the United fans to see the club’s youngsters come good, such as Ro-Shaun Williams, James Garner, Ethan Hamilton, Mason Greenwood and Joshua Bohui. The United boss could at least give a few of them a chance to stretch their legs and gain invaluable experience.

Mourinho, in turn, could see the readiness of his teenagers and their on field composure and attitude. For a club that has built its name on the tradition of promoting youngster from the academy, this will be an ideal end to Manchester United’s tour of the United States.