Pre-season is now over, and Manchester United head into the Premier League season both in good form, but also with several questions around the performances.
Ruben Amorim will have seen several reasons to be positive about his team beating Fiorentina on penalties, as despite an underwhelming performance for much of the game, there are signs.
Old Trafford played host to the pre-season finale against Fiorentina on Saturday afternoon, on a day which felt like the real send-off for Manchester United’s season ahead.
United unveiled Benjamin Sesko pre-game, with the Slovenian receiving a standing ovation, with the fanbase clearly enthralled by the business completed this summer.
However, the loudest applause of the day was reserved for the announcement of David de Gea’s name in the Fiorentina line-up, which was a standing ovation and then some, the send off that the Spaniard deserved two years ago.
In the game, United were the better team after conceding, but everything felt just slightly off, enough to see attacks break down at the last moment with a tackle or block.
The big worry from the game was United’s struggles in the build-up, which were brought on by Casemiro’s inability to do much in the midfield that involves movement.
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But this made one player look like a must start following his introduction to the game that saw United beat Fiorentina 5-4 on penalties.
Kobbie Mainoo about to play pass for Manchester United.
Photo by Ben Roberts – Danehouse/Getty Images
Kobbie Mainoo instantly improved Manchester United’s midfield after substitution
With Casemiro looking absolutely miles off it for United in midfield, I was really impressed by the cameo that Kobbie Mainoo put in for United.
After watching 73 minutes of United struggling to progress play naturally through the lines and instead opting each time to play it long to Mason Mount who didn’t win a single one of these balls.
However, I thought Mainoo changed this straight away, picking the ball up off the defence and carrying it through the press and picking a pass to more advanced teammates.
This was a massive boost for United, and immediately changed the game as after his introduction, Bruno Fernandes was able to start phases of play further forward in more dangerous areas of the pitch.
Mainoo brought this to the midfield after his introduction and it was desperately needed, instantly improving the way the team functioned and elevated those around him.
Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt weren’t stuck worrying that the ball would be lost and so were happy to give Mainoo the ball, and ultimately, it showed the predicament that Amorim now has to make his system work, if a new midfielder isn’t signed.
Mainoo cameo showcases exactly how instrumental Carlos Baleba would be for Manchester United
While Mainoo’s cameo was excellent and exactly what United needed, he still lacks the physical attributes and would really be better off with a partner who was equally as good on the ball but also had the legs to do the hard work.
Carlos Baleba is wanted by Manchester United, and this game showed why, as he would fix every issue that Casemiro brought to the midfield for United.
Mainoo’s ball carrying and impact on his teammates would be tenfold if it was Baleba who United bring in this summer.
Baleba would not only evade pressure and be that pivotal player to take the ball from defence to midfield, but also would be a ball winner for United, something Casemiro also struggled with simply due to not being able to get into the right positions in time.
This game highlighted the need for a midfielder but I think that Mainoo is a must start against Arsenal, unless Amorim plans to defend for 90 minutes.