Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Manchester United’s pre-season continues this weekend against PSG, with the travelling squad much closer to Michael Carrick’s likely best team.
It is back to Sweden this weekend for Manchester United, and Michael Carrick has taken a 22-player squad for the fixture against PSG in Gothenburg.
United vs PSG is the biggest test of the summer so far for United, and a win over the back-to-back Champions League winners would be a big statement just 14 days out from the Premier League campaign beginning.
PSG lost to Mallorca in their first friendly earlier this week, and so United are sure to be favourites. While United have several first-team players back.
Matheus Cunha, Senne Lammens, Karl Darlow, and Benjamin Sesko haven’t travelled due to injury or illness.
Manchester United Training Session
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
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How Manchester United could line-up against PSG
Here is the strongest side possible from the confirmed team heading to Sweden;
Tom Heaton: With Lammens out of this one with an illness, Tom Heaton could be set to start and play his second 90 minutes in a week. With Radek Vitek and Altay Bayindir both gone, Heaton is United’s current starting goalkeeper until Lammens or Darlow are back.
Diogo Dalot: Leny Yoro has started every game during pre-season at right-back, but Diogo Dalot is back and should slot right back into the starting line-up. In pre-season training, he looked at 100%, and his natural athleticism should let him start immediately.
Leny Yoro: While Yoro has been a right-back this summer so far, he could actually move to centre-back against PSG, given how off the pace Harry Maguire looked against Atletico Madrid. Yoro needs to have a good season, and we’d like to see him in from the start here.
Ayden Heaven: Partnering with Yoro, we have Ayden Heaven since he has become undroppable with his excellent performances so far this summer. Heaven is arguably United’s best defender right now and can show it against the European champions here.
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Luke Shaw: Completing the back four, Luke Shaw will start over Harry Amass, although with no signing yet in the position, we expect Amass to come in at some stage for minutes, as he is currently the back-up.
Mason Mount: Mason Mount has been flawless this summer in midfield, and we expect he will start against PSG, with Youri Tielemans off the bench for his debut at some stage during the game. A strong performance might even keep Kobbie Mainoo out of the side.
Andrey Santos: Another undroppable player for United is Andrey Santos, who has been excellent this summer in the number six position. Santos fits with any possible partner in midfield, and therefore, this position is probably his for the taking.
Amad: It wasn’t the best outing for Amad against Atletico, but he should start here for more minutes in the legs. Amad is United’s best right winger, and with absences elsewhere up front, he is a sure starter.
Bruno Fernandes: In the 10, Shea Lacey will drop out for the return of captain Bruno Fernandes, who is the first name on any ‘strongest’ Manchester United teamsheet. United will be thrilled to have him back.
Patrick Dorgu: On the left, no Cunha or Marcus Rashford means that Patrick Dorgu is in the strongest line-up for United here. He hasn’t been anywhere near as effective in attacking areas this summer as he was last season, due to the lack of transition football. But he is in the strongest side here.
Bryan Mbeumo: Leading the line, Bryan Mbeumo is the obvious pick with Benjamin Sesko still recovering and Joshua Zirkzee not an option. Mbeumo scored twice last weekend against Atletico and will continue in the position here.