Manchester United's pre-season tour can be considered something of a success given the results and Erik ten Hag's early impact on the players.
That said, some players thrived more than others during the games in Asia and Australia. And with the transfer window open, and Cristiano Ronaldo still absent, it was a chance for many players to prove they are worthy of a place in Ten Hag's squad, or even starting XI.
Anthony Martial is one man who took his chance. The striker's United career looked to be over heading into the tour but he's transformed his fortunes. The same cannot be said of three others...
Winners
Anthony Martial
When Martial went on loan to Sevilla last January, he looked to have played his last game for United. Not rated by interim boss Ralf Rangnick, lacking focus, commitment and goals, his six-year spell at Old Trafford looked to be over. But with Cristiano Ronaldo absent from the tour, Martial thrived leading United’s attack, scoring three goals and responding positively under the tutelage of Ten Hag and his coaching staff.
Martial, who managed one goal for United and one on loan at Sevilla, looked sharp and hungry throughout the tour, linking up well with his fellow forwards and providing a cutting edge to United up front, so much so that Ten Hag has put a block on him leaving, believing he can finally help Martial unlock his huge potential.
Jadon Sancho
Another United player with a point to prove on tour - although they were all on trial after last season’s debacle - was Sancho. Signed from Borussia Dortmund for £75million a year ago, an ear infection and tonsillitis book-ended a miserable debut season for Sancho at United, who lost his England place as a result.
But on tour, the winger was one of United’s stand-out performers, scoring three goals and suggesting he, like Martial, is finally ready to fulfil his potential this season. Clever link-up play, intelligent movement and an impressive work-rate have made Sancho a definite starter for United’s Premier League opener at home to Brighton a week on Sunday.
Diogo Dalot
Like Martial, Dalot’s United career looked to be over when he was sent out on loan to AC Milan in the 2020-21 season, following the £50m signing of Aaron Wan-Bissaka the summer before. But Dalot has shown impressive focus and determination to return to United and establish himself as the first-choice right-back, ahead of Wan-Bissaka.
Ten Hag’s proactive style suits Dalot, who is more comfortable pressing forward than defending, and he may not be anywhere near the level of others in his position, like Kyle Walker and Trent Alexander-Arnold. But he used the tour to cement his status as United’s right-back, effectively playing as a winger at times, and must now show ten Hag he has the quality to remain there this season.
Losers
Donny van de Beek
Van de Beek, United's £40million enigma, started his first game of the tour, Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa, but was peripheral throughout. Midfielder Van de Beek wasted his chance to remind his former Ajax boss Ten Hag of just what he can offer.
There was one bright moment on tour for van de Beek, when he crossed for Marcus Rashford to finish off an impressive team goal in United 3-1 win over Crystal Palace at the MCG, but that was a solitary high point in an other underwhelming tour from van de Beek. With United doing all they can to sign his former Ajax team-mate Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona and having already recruited Christian Eriksen, Van de Beek’s playing options for the new season are already looking increasingly bleak.
Victor Lindelof
Lindelof looks like falling to fourth in the United central defensive pecking order, behind Harry Maguire, new signing Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane. With Maguire having retained the captaincy and new arrival Martinez going straight into the team on the left side of central defence, Lindelof will be the one to make way.
On tour, the Sweden international did little to push his case to start the new season, backing off from Leon Bailey in United’s final tour game and allowing the Aston Villa attacker space and time to send to a shot past him and into the far corner of the United goal.
Alex Telles
The Brazilian was always a stop-gap measure at United, signed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as back-up for Luke Shaw at left-back, where he never really convinced. On tour, Telles was deployed as a left-sided centre-back in the second-half of the early tour games, but did not look convincing there either.
With Ten Hag having signed Tyrell Malacia to provide competition for Shaw, Telles is cutting an increasingly peripheral figure at United, although his ability to also play at right-back, as back-up for Dalot, may see him stay. But one of him or Wan-Bissaka will surely leave before deadline day, even with Ten Hag saying he needs a big squad this season, because of the unique nature of the campaign, with the World Cup in November and December.
