Manchester United started their pre-season preparations with a disappointing result as they suffered defeat against Wrexham in Helsinki.
The match gave Michael Carrick the chance to look at several players ahead of the new campaign, with the manager making a full team change at half-time.
The game was always expected to be about fitness and testing players rather than results, but there were still some important performances to study.
New signing Andrey Santos was one of the biggest positives for United. The midfielder showed energy, confidence and a willingness to take responsibility, while several young players also impressed after coming on in the second half.
However, there were also some worrying moments, especially defensively, as United were punished after switching off for Wrexham’s goal.
skysports
Here are the Manchester United player ratings from the friendly defeat.
Tom Heaton: 6/10
The experienced goalkeeper had a fairly quiet afternoon but did make a few useful contributions.
Heaton felt he was fouled during one early moment when he lost possession, but there was not much else to test him.
He produced a decent save from Sam Smith before the striker was ruled offside, but overall it was a calm performance.
Leny Yoro: 6/10
Yoro showed some positive attacking movement and linked up well during one forward run.
The defender looked comfortable when carrying the ball forward but had a few difficult moments defensively.
He was beaten by George Thomason at one stage and will know he can improve when dealing with physical battles.
Harry Maguire: 7/10
Maguire was one of United’s stronger performers in the first half.
The defender looked confident when bringing the ball out from the back and received a big reaction from supporters whenever he got involved.
Although the Wrexham goal saw the cross go through his legs, his overall defensive display was solid.
Ayden Heaven: 6/10
Heaven showed his recovery speed with an excellent tackle after losing possession in a dangerous area.
However, the mistake before that moment highlighted an area where he still needs to improve.
He showed good athletic ability but must become more reliable with the ball.
Luke Shaw: 5/10
It was not the best return to action for Shaw.
The defender was involved in the mistake leading to the goal after allowing a runner too much space.
He looked slightly uncomfortable during his 45 minutes and will want a stronger performance in the next friendly.
Andrey Santos: 7/10
The midfielder was one of the biggest positives for United.
Santos showed exactly why the club was excited about bringing him in. He was aggressive, worked hard and always looked to move the ball forward.
He was not perfect and made some mistakes, but his energy and confidence stood out.
His ability to win battles in midfield could become very useful during the season.
Mason Mount: 5/10
Mount struggled to make his mark on the game.
His passing was not at his usual level, and he lost possession several times.
He was also unable to stop Thomason’s run during the build-up to the Wrexham goal.
Bryan Mbeumo: 5/10
The attacker found it difficult to get involved.
Mbeumo failed to create many dangerous moments and struggled to find his rhythm during his time on the pitch.
Jack Fletcher: 6/10
Fletcher worked hard and showed good pressing ability.
He helped United win possession back on occasions but struggled to keep the ball when under pressure.
Patrick Dorgu: 5/10
Dorgu had a quiet match.
United struggled to create much down the left side, meaning he had limited opportunities to influence the game.
Joshua Zirkzee: 5/10
Zirkzee showed flashes of quality but failed to provide the attacking outlet United needed.
He had one shot that went wide but could not make a strong impact.
Radek Vitek: 6/10
Vitek made an important save after Wrexham found space behind the defence.
He looked comfortable and handled his second-half opportunity well.
Jaydan Kamason: 6/10
Kamason worked hard after coming on.
He received a yellow card after a heavy touch led to a challenge, but his overall effort was positive.
Dan Armer: 6/10
Armer impressed with some neat passing from defence.
He was comfortable stepping forward and competing physically.
Jacob Devaney: 6/10
Playing at centre-back was a challenge, especially against bigger opponents.
However, Devaney showed intelligence and handled the situation well.
Harry Amass: 7/10
Amass was one of the better performers in the second half.
He defended strongly and showed confidence when joining attacks.
His physicality and tackling ability were noticeable.
Tyler Fletcher: 7/10
Fletcher impressed after becoming captain for the second half.
He wanted the ball, controlled the tempo and showed maturity beyond his age.
Dan Gore: 7/10
Gore showed plenty of fight in midfield.
His energy, tackling and willingness to drive forward gave United more intensity.
Shea Lacey: 6/10
Lacey showed a brilliant touch but did not see enough of the ball.
He will hope for more chances to attack defenders in future games.
Toby Collyer: 6/10
Collyer worked hard but struggled to influence the match in a more advanced position.
Ethan Williams: 6/10
Williams linked well with Amass but did not get many chances to run at defenders.
Ethan Wheatley: 6/10
Wheatley gave maximum effort but lacked service.
Facing experienced defenders made it difficult for him to create much.
Final thoughts
The result was not what Manchester United wanted, but pre-season is about learning and testing players.
Andrey Santos was the biggest positive, while several young players showed they can compete for opportunities.
Michael Carrick will now focus on improving fitness, fixing defensive mistakes, and giving players more minutes before the new season begins.
For more Manchester United News, follow us on Facebook for instant updates directly to your phone
Discover more from MUFCNews
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
