Can Bayern pair sort Man Utd's defensive 'problems'?

Manchester United head Erik 10 Hag was referring to wounded problems successful his squad erstwhile he said "it’s clear we person problems" aft their penalty shootout Community Shield loss to Manchester City.

But Ten Hag knows nan rumor goes wider than that, which is why United are hoping to beryllium capable to corroborate nan signings of Bayern Munich brace Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui complete nan adjacent fewer days.

United were seconds distant from adding a Community Shield triumph complete Manchester City to their FA Cup occurrence against nan aforesaid opponents connected Saturday erstwhile their hopes were dashed successful somewhat predictable fashion.

The show of Bernardo Silva rising highest astatine nan acold station would usually person raised an eyebrow but nan subordinate he hit to nan header was Facundo Pellistri, nan Uruguay guardant who spent nan 2nd half of past play astatine La Liga broadside Granada earlier heading to nan Copa America - wherever he was portion of his country’s tally to nan semi-finals.

With Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia still missing done injury, and youngster Harry Amass overlooked contempt doing good connected nan club’s pre-season circuit of nan United States, Pellistri was nan only action connected nan chair erstwhile Ten Hag decided to switch Harry Maguire aft an hr and displacement Lisandro Martinez to his normal cardinal protect role.

United tin motion disconnected nan harm caused astatine Wembley. But if it happens again erstwhile they unfastened their Premier League run against Fulham astatine Old Trafford connected Friday, nan excuses will not beryllium arsenic easy to accept.

That is why nan nine are closing successful connected De Ligt and Mazraoui, who played for Morocco arsenic a left-back astatine nan World Cup moreover though he is much astatine location connected nan right.

“No, I can’t,” said Ten Hag, erstwhile asked if he could update connected their arrivals and nan expected departure of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who missed Saturday's crippled amid a wide knowing his move to West Ham is astir to spell through. “When we person immoderate news, we will denote it. Until that point, we will activity pinch nan squad that is available.

“It’s clear we person problems and we person to work. The players person to activity to beryllium disposable and nan unit person to work. Together it should beryllium a bully collaboration.”

Ten Hag said successful nan aftermath of past Saturday’s 3-0 friends nonaccomplishment to Liverpool successful South Carolina that United’s caller level is "eager" to do business.

New main executive Omar Berrada, sporting head Dan Ashworth and method head Jason Wilcox each watched proceedings unfold from nan Royal Box.

However, it is clear nan 90 minutes, positive penalties, was a little break from what has been a engaged summer.

“I americium pleased pinch nan caller [boardroom] structure,” said Ten Hag. “We are moving bully together.”

Ex-Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane added connected ITV: "They cardinal for United is keeping nan amended players fit. The United squad is beautiful strong, if they support each their players fresh – I would beryllium beautiful upbeat for nan commencement of nan season.

"I still deliberation nan head would person wanted to spot a spot much alloy to spot nan crippled out. You would surely expect United to beryllium challenging for nan apical 4 if players support fit."

Alejandro Garnacho was only connected nan transportation for 31 minutes but he made arsenic large an effect arsenic anyone successful a United shirt.

He group up nan opportunity which Marcus Rashford grounded to return erstwhile he fired against nan ft of a station pinch only City goalkeeper Ederson to beat.

The 20-year-old unsettled nan City defence pinch his nonstop moving and thought he had won nan crippled pinch a debased thrust into nan bottommost area from nan separator of nan area 8 minutes from time, aft immoderate fantabulous attack activity from skipper Bruno Fernandes.

It was a affirmative contribution, which he reinforced by scoring United’s 3rd punishment successful what yet proved to beryllium a 7-6 shootout defeat.

“Alejandro did very well,” said Ten Hag. “He came successful and nan scheme went arsenic we thought it should go. It’s only disappointing we couldn’t bring it complete nan line.”

Ten Hag besides said positively astir Rashford. Yet location is simply a nagging consciousness he is still not yet backmost to nan shape that saw him people a career-high 30 United goals successful nan 2022-23 season.

Aside from nan opportunity he missed – which he should person done amended pinch – he did not airs nan aforesaid threat from his preferred wide position that Garnacho did successful overmuch little time, and yet moved backmost to nan centre-forward slot which Ten Hag feels he is little effective in.

“He sewage into bully positions respective times successful very bully positions,” said nan United boss.

“I’m very pleased he is getting successful those positions, because I cognize pinch him, he will support going and support making those movements, nan squad will make those movements and he will people goals. Once he scores one, nan goals will come.”

Keane said: "He is simply a really, really bully subordinate who tin effect nan game. When he plays, I expect thing from him.

"On nan different manus we person seen Marcus Rashford people awesome goals but he has sewage to go clinical.

"We conscionable request to spot Marcus backmost to his aged self, pinch awesome energy, moving disconnected players, because we cognize he is bully astatine that stuff."

The past clip Jadon Sancho took a punishment astatine Wembley, it was England's Euro 2020 shootout conclusion by Italy and he was subjected to racist maltreatment connected societal media.

He was brave capable to return United’s 4th penalty, astatine which constituent they held a 3-2 advantage arsenic Silva had already had his changeable saved by United keeper Andre Onana.

The 24-year-old went to Ederson’s near but nan City keeper managed to get a manus to nan ball, pushing it connected to a post, wherever it bounced crossed extremity and yet out.

United skipper Bruno Fernandes made a constituent of stepping to Sancho to connection sympathy and Ten Hag says he is assured nan winger would measurement up again if required.

“He’s a very bully punishment taker and I had nary doubts to fto him return one,” said Ten Hag. “In nan early I americium judge he will return penalties.”