Manchester United: 5 points to note from the Red Devils' pre-season tour

Manchester United managed to pick up a hard-fought 2-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur in their fourth pre-season tie. Many fans and pundits feel that this may just be what Manchester United wanted as they go into the new season. Tottenham and Inter Milan provided United with a much sterner test and the team came out with flying colours in both games.

Take nothing away from the Red Devils, they have been impressive in this tour. Winning all four of their games has just given them the confidence boost they wanted as they go into a new season. Though, in some of those games, the opposition was found wanting, you can’t say that there aren’t some clear improvements by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.

Against Tottenham, things were, as expected, spiced up a little bit and the Red Devils didn’t have it all their way. The game didn’t lack a competitive edge that pre-season friendlies are accustomed to, and it was evident by the heavy tackles some United players came under.

Here are five things noted from Manchester United's tour, now it has ended:

#5 Tuanzebe should take over

Axel Tuanzebe could jump into first team at Manchester United

Manchester United was expected to boost the centre of their defence in this transfer window. What happens in case they fail to get a mature and reliable leader to marshal their defence?

At the moment, the defence is almost picking itself, with the team only one centre-back shy of being what Ole Gunnar wants. But who is going to fill in the position in the case that a new arrival doesn’t materialize?

With the addition of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, the team now has a specialist right-back that can complement the other defenders. The left-back slot is now fully Luke Shaw’s, and Victor Lindelof is the go-to centre-back currently.

All the team needs is a consistent partner for the Swede and they’ll be good to go. The likes of Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly have shown promise when partnering the Swede, but it is clear United need an upgrade.

Then there are other options like Marcus Rojo and Phil Jones as well, but none of them are what a club of Manchester United’s stature wants. That only leaves academy graduate Axel Tuanzebe as the best option in the occasion that no one comes in.

United need to build long-term, and the other defenders don’t look like long-term options any more. This may just be the right time for United to introduce the young centre-back - who was impressive last season on loan at Aston Villa - to the first team at Old Trafford.

To top it up, he has equally been impressive on tour and there’s no reason why he can’t break into this United side and take up a permanent role. He can save United millions that can be better invested in other areas of the team.

#4 The midfield that will likely anchor United through the season

It is not yet clearly established who will handle the central midfield for United next season. Paul Pogba’s situation, though quiet at the moment, can play out unpredictably. If he does stay, he’s going to be the go-to midfielder for United next season.

That now leaves the vacancy of who will partner him at the centre of the pitch. We’ve already seen that Solskjaer wants to play him in a conductor role on the right of his midfield duo. It was a role that he thrived on with the French National Team during the World Cup.

It’s going to be straight-forward battle between the likes of Nemanja Matic, Fred, and Scott McTominay to partner the talented French man – if he does end up staying at United. As it stands, McTominay is winning the battle.

The Scottish youngster looks like a younger version of Matic as he strolls up and down the field while breaking up opposition play and recycling possession for his team. The game against Tottenham was the first in which Solskjaer placed him and Pogba from the start and he didn’t disappoint.

While United may be on the lookout for midfielders to replace the departed Fellaini and Ander Herrera, they may already have Scott McTominay ready to fill in those boots.

#3 Rashford and Martial can deliver

Marcus Rashford is no doubt one of the most exciting players to watch in this United side, but as last season proved, he still needs to work on his game. Anthony Martial is another player that Manchester United has huge expectations for. It shows great faith by the club to the two youngsters that they’re willing to offload the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku if they get real offers for them.

The two (Rashford and Martial) are playing in positions that Lukaku and Sanchez were brought it for at high costs. However, the manager sees that that the youngsters are ready to step up, especially this season.

Against Tottenham, Martial started as a striker rather than the left-wing where he normally plays for United. Rashford was given a breather from the starting eleven but one thing remained clear: they may finally be ready to take United by storm. Martial delivered with his hold up play, directness, and ability to bring others into play. To add the icing on the cake, he capped off his performance with a goal.

Rashford, when called upon on tour, has managed to deliver and with him starting the season as United main striker, he may just set everything on fire together with Martial. The two have now shown that United will not miss either Sanchez or Lukaku should the right offer come in for them. The fans will be buzzing to see what those two come up with next season.

#2 Rashford in front, but who will play on the wings?

It is going to be exciting to see which players start in the wing-forward positions for Manchester United come next season. We already know that Marcus Rashford is likely starting for United as a striker for the season, but who will partner him up front?

Mason Greenwood has already shown that he’s ready to take up the right-wing position and the manager has been encouraging him to. Though not impressive as he’s been in other games on tour, he's had his chances on the right and didn’t do much wrong.

On the left, where competition abounds with Anthony Martial and Daniel James (and if he stays, Alexis Sanchez) available to play compete to start. Against Tottenham, it was James that got the nod, while Martial started the game centrally.

With Rashford already the main striker as things stand, Martial will have to take up a place on the wings. That leaves Daniel James, who has been impressive, to fill in the other wing. While James is an old-school winger who likes to spread the field, attack with speed, and deliver crosses, he may just have to occupy the right side of the forward line.

Martial is quite comfortable on the left and judging by the tour he’s had, this may end up being his being season for United. Solskjaer will want to play him on the left and have him and James run at opposition with Rashford down the middle

#1 Angel Gomes may finally be ready for first-team football

It may have taken him two seasons since he broke into the United first team as a 16-year-old, but Angel Gomes looks to be finally ready to make the step up. There's obvious raw talent in the young Englishman but as he has shown in pre-season and specifically in the tie against Tottenham, he's ready.

Just a few tweaks here and there from the young man which can be sorted with improved game time, the attacking midfielder should be on Ole's plans come next season. The team was in dire need of someone that can provide creativity and even score goals from the midfield and Gomes looks to be just that.

With how the young man has carried himself, it's no wonder the English giants look to be quelling their interest in Sporting attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes. He has to contest for a starting spot with the likes of Mata and Lingard, and he's already shown he can take up the challenge. Against Tottenham, he even got himself a goal while playing on the left side of the attacking trio, but it was just testament to his obvious talents.

This may just be the season he's been waiting for and he has to take his chances with both hands when they come.

Edited by Nnanna Mba