'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Victories in pre-season friendlies often don’t mean too much, but try telling that to Manchester United, who kicked off the Louis Van Gaal era with a 7-0 victory over LA Galaxy at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to claim the Chevrolet Cup. The Red Devils won comfortably thanks to not one, not two, but three braces from Wayne Rooney, Reece James and Ashley Young who all scored after Danny Welbeck scored the opener to give them the lead in the 13th minute.
Many were eager to see what side Van Gaal would select and how they would line up. They were not disappointed as the Red Devils lined up in an unusual 3-4-1-2 formation with Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Jonny Evans as the three centre backs, and Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw playing as the two wing-backs. In central midfield, it was new signing Ander Herrera alongside captain Darren Fletcher with Juan Mata operating in front of the two in a No.10 role. Up front; it was Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck who started the game.
United call the shots
Very early on, United’s pressing game was evident and it was new signing Herrera that got off the first shot of the game, which was expertly saved by keeper Jaime Penedo. And it was through their high pressing that United got their opener. After Mata won the ball from a LA Galaxy defender, he laid the ball off to Welbeck, who struck a sublime shot from 25 yards out, which hit the ball and went in.
From that moment on, there was no stopping the Red Devils, who looked to rack up the goals in their first game under Van Gaal. Rooney scored the first of his two, just a few minutes before half-time when he converted from the spot and got his brace on the stroke of half-time with a simple tap-in from a few yards.
United went into the break 3-0 up and unsurprisingly ran in the changes, which meant that only the central midfield duo of Fletcher and Herrera stayed on. Although there was plenty of change in personnel that didn’t seem to affect their play as debutant Herrera ran the show and showed just why he is so highly regarded in Bilbao.
Just after the hour mark, one of those substitutes, young Reece James scored with a sweet finish with his left foot, and soon doubled his tally in the 84th minute to put his side 5-0. And just when it looked as that was it, Ashley Young scored two in the final few minutes, to make it 7-0 and register a comprehensive win for the Red Devils.
Even with the likes of Landon Donovan, who came on as a substitute and Robbie Keane, LA Galaxy were unable to trouble United. In the end, although he didn’t score, it was Herrera, who was without a doubt, the man of the match, in his debut for the club. It was a night filled with positives for Van Gaal, whose side next take on AS Roma in Denver in a few days time.
Watch the highlights here: LA Galaxy 0-7 Manchester United
