Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho gets a first look at his players in Club America friendly

JOSE MOURINHO got a first look at his players this summer as Manchester United took on Club America.
Jose Mourinho expected Club America to put his new-look Manchester United squad through their paces – and his prediction appeared to be realised in the 1-1 friendly.

Missing star talents Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez, the opening match of a pre-season US tour looked like it might end in defeat for the Reds in Arizona until Juan Mata volleyed to equalise in the 78th minute.

A goal-less first half at the University of Phoenix Stadium saw new signing Lee Grant make two saves, while United appeared to struggle to zero-in at the other end.
Anthony Martial and Mata came close, although none caused Club America stopper Agustin Marchesin too much strife.

Mourinho made two changes at the break, replacing Grant with Joel Pereira and switching captain Antonio Valencia for Timothy Fosu-Mensah.

Club America got the better of United in the 59th, Henry Martin finding the net with a stunning header off a cross by Antonio Lopez.

Luke Shaw made a follow-up attempt after play resumed, going wide to the right, and United went more than 15 minutes before another opportunity arose.

It looked to be another miss, Ander Herrera striking the left post with a header, but Mata was waiting at the side of the box to power the volley home.

United’s next stop is in California, where they will play San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday.

Pogba is having a post-World Cup break and Sanchez did not fly out with United at the weekend because of what the club said was a “personal administrative issue”.

New signing Fred, along with Sanchez, is expected to join the squad next week.
MAN UTD 1-1 CLUB AMERICA – AS IT HAPPENED
05:00: A good run-out for United ends in a stale-mate. The Red Devils were the better team in the first 45 minutes but fell behind to a fine header on the hour mark.

Juan Mata levelled late on for the Red Devils as Jose Mourinho handed a number of youngsters appearances, not least Tahith Chong – whose cameo was a major positive.

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04:55: Jose Mourinho, reflecting on the match to MUTV: “It was good. After five days of training you need to play and you need to play against a team that is three days distance to start their Mexican league.

“It was a team with intensity and a team with quality that pushed us to levels that we are not prepared for. It was a good training session.”

On bright spark Chong: “He was good. He came with the intention to show [his quality] and in a moment where we had no strikers on the pitch,” Mourinho said.

“Martial was the only one and then he left. So we needed people to create, to have some initiative, which he did.

“The action for the cross for the goal was a beautiful action. He was enthusiastic, he was confident to play.

“Of course physically he has his limitations. When he has one more touch and he allows the body contact, he loses for everyone.

“But when he makes the ball move and attacks people one-against-one, he has quality. He is a good kid.”

FULL-TIME: MAN UTD 1-1 CLUB AMERICA

87′ A few more late United subs. Tuanzebe and Gomes replacing McTominay and Mata. Just a few minutes remaining for either of the teams to find a decisive goal.

85′ McTominay down injured and receiving some treatment after taking a knock to the head. He looks like he’ll be alright.
82′ Chong causing all kinds of problems as he wins a free-kick on the near side of the box. He’s bringing some much-needed energy and excitement into this United second-half display.

78′ MAN UTD 1-1 CLUB AMERICA – MATA

There we go, United are level! Chong gathers a loose ball and makes space to whip in a cross to the far post where Herrera heads against the post.

The rebound bounces out to Mata inside the box and he drills a shot through the Club America keeper to level the score. Can they push for a winner?

76′ Mason Greenwood is on for Shaw. The 16-year-old scored 17 times for United’s under-18s last term and is playing for the senior side for the first time ever. He was only born in October 2001, back when Kylie Minogue’s Can’t Get You Out Of My Head was top of the charts. Can you tell this game has quietened down a bit?

73′ Luke Shaw goes into the book for holding back a Club America opponent. The defender is currently playing on the left of a front three, with Mata acting as a false No 9 and Chong on the right. No, really…

65′ United have been off the pace so far in ths second half as Club America drive forward in search of another goal. Bailly does well to cut out a shooting opportunity before Club America win a corner. The Mexican outfit turning it up a notch now.

60′ Tahith Chong and Darmian are on for United, replacing Mitchell and Martial.

59′ MAN UTD 0-1 CLUB AMERICA – MARTIN

We have the game’s first goal and it’s gone to Club America. A stunning Henry Martin header from a left-sided cross left Pereira with no chance.

Straight into the top corner and Jose Mourinho’s men are trailing on the hour mark.

53′ United half-time substitute Pereira with a good one-on-one save from Martinez after slack United defending.

46′ Two United changes at the interval. Joel Pereira on for debutant Lee Grant with Timothy Fosu-Mensah replacing Antonio Valencia.

.@TahithC whipped in a cross which @AnderHerrera headed against the post, before @JuanMata8 fired home! Get in! #MUFC #MUTOUR pic.twitter.com/LCL7GKSlva

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 20, 2018

03:55. United legend Bryan Robson hails a few “nice and bright” passages of play from United during the half-time analysis and insists their passing has been “sharp”. He adds: “Little bit of slackness in midfield areas where we’ve given the ball away. We just need to tighten up in there.”

HALF-TIME: MAN UTD 0-0 CLUB AMERICA

44′ Free-kick for United before the break. Mata tries to take it quickly but the ref is having none of it. The Spaniard and Pereira then stand over the dead ball before Martial curls one just wide and just over the bar. Good pace to the game so far, but only a few chances. Goalless at half-time.

41′ And here’s Grant’s double save (that classes as a double save, right?) for your viewing pleasure. Alisson who?

39′ Free header for Club America at a corner but it goes well over the crossbar. Still awaiting a breakthrough in Arizona.

33′ Good run from America’s Osvaldo Martinez, who drives through the middle and tests Grant with a shot. Initially the United keeper can’t keep a hold of it but before the midfielder can reach the rebound, Grant has recovered. He’s just blown an inner sigh of relief, no doubt.

27′ Lee Grant is called into his first meaningful action in a United shirt but comfortably pushes a low shot clear of danger.

22′ Martial goes close again with an effort that deflects just wide of the post. The striker is certainly involved.

He’s going a point to prove this pre-season, his agent having said he wants to leave because of a lack of minutes under Mourinho.

But reports indicate that United have no intention to let the former Monaco star, who has been linked with Tottenham, Juventus and PSG, go.

15′ POST! Almost 1-0 United as Mata gets a shot away from the edge of the box despite a number of America shirts but his left-footed strike comes back off the post. United the team on top at the minute.

MAN UTD 0-0 CLUB AMERICA

13′ A bright passing move from United ends in Martial curling a shot over the crossbar. Lovely interplay between the forwards but Martial can’t quite keep his effort down after Herrera’s lay-off.

9′ Martial turns in the box and goes down under pressure from Edson Alvarez but there’s nothing in it and the referee rightly ignores the Frenchman’s penalty claims.

5′ Yeah it’s not the best attendance, is it? United have started with good pace though.

This is Club America’s final pre-season game while it is the Red Devils’ first, so you would expect Miguel Herrera’s men to be in better shape.