Pre-season match report: Man Utd 4-0 Leeds

United turned on the style in our second pre-season tie Down Under to put old foes Leeds United to the sword with a 4-0 drubbing.

Mason Greenwood scored his first goal at senior level, fellow Academy graduate Marcus Rashford added the second before unlikely scorer Phil Jones and Anthony Martial completed the rout against Marcelo Bielsa's men.
Although this was only a benign pre-season friendly on the other side of the world, the first meeting between these two historic footballing Uniteds since 2011 was witnessed by 55,274 fans inside the Optus Stadium.

Energy and intensity were again features of the performance from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's United. Some of the attacking football, particularly on the counter, was really pleasing on the eye.

Once again, the boss handed out valuable playing time to 23 members of his squad and he also started new signings Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James together for the first time. Axel Tuanzebe was the only unused substitute, while the ill David De Gea and injured Lee Grant, Luke Shaw and Romelu Lukaku were all ruled out ahead of kick-off.

After Rashford had fired off a post early on, United took the lead four minutes later. Aaron Wan - Bissaka latched on to Paul Pogba's perfectly weighted through ball and in turn picked out Greenwood. The 17-year-old has been widely tipped for stardom and definitely looked sharp to slot in his first senior goal with aplomb.

The Reds kept up the early pressure and Pogba was in the thick of it, bending a 25 yard free-kick just wide of the post before stinging the palms of Leeds goalkeeper Kiko Casilla with a rasping drive moments later. The engimatic Frenchman looked hungry and busy in the heart of the Reds engine room.
The Championship side then went close twice in quick succession as Jack Harrison flashed a shot wide and Patrick Bamford was denied by Sergio Romero from close range.

Leeds were made to pay for those missed opportunities on 27 minutes, when a sweeping Reds move culminated in Rashford's smart finish beyond Casilla after Scott McTominay had played him in.

The Reds' pace was proving to be effective on the break and a third goal almost arrived on 44 minutes, via the right foot of new signing Daniel James. He burst forward up the flank and saw his low shot bounce off the post in the last meaningful moment of first-half action.

 Just like he did against Perth Glory, Solskjaer made 11 substitutions at the start of the second half and that fresh side began with the same intentions as the men they replaced – to attack and score. After seeing a shot from range tipped over the bar, Andreas Pereira earned an assist from the resulting corner when his in-swinging cross was powerfully headed home by the much malinged Jones.

Angel Gomes was playing in the no.10 position, just behind striker Martial, and the diminutive Academy graduate showed several glimpses of his natural talent on the ball, most notably having cut inside from the right and dragging a left-footed shot just wide.
 The fourth goal arrived with 21 minutes to play when impressive substitute Tahith Chong was scythed down by Liam Cooper and Martial duly did the rest from the spot.

Solskjaer’s United have now confidently earned two successive wins during Tour 2019 and proudly, all six of the squad’s goals so far have either been scored or set up by an Academy graduate, including the spot-kick earned by Chong and converted by Martial.

The squad is set to fly from Australia to Singapore on Thursday afternoon for the second leg of this hard-working pre-season tour.

Serie A giants Internazionale await on Saturday, in a match that will provide a more detailed assessment of the progress that is being made by Ole and his staff. 

First half United: Romero, Wan-Bissaka, Bailly, Lindelof, Rojo, McTominay, Pogba, Greenwood, Mata, James, Rashford.
Second-half United: J. Pereira, Dalot, Smalling, Jones, Young (C), Matic (Garner 78), A.Pereira, Chong, Gomes, Lingard, Martial.

Match report: Milan 1-1 United (8-9 on penalties)

United prevailed after a marathon shootout of 26 penalties to win our ICC opener after a much improved performance against Gennaro Gattuso's Rossoneri in Carson, California. United looked fitter, sharper and more fluid than they had in their first two ties against Club America and MLS side San Jose last time out, as Alexis Sanchez stood out with an impressive individual showing.

The Reds, who lined up in a lesser spotted 3-5-2 formation, made a bright start to the match and moved ahead inside 12 minutes through the Chilean. Sanchez, superb all evening, had already had an effort saved by Gigi Donnarumma but the young keeper was powerless to prevent Sanchez from opening the scoring. Juan Mata's pinpoint volleyed pass picked out Alexis and he finished well from close range.
Our lead lasted only three minutes though, as a long ball from Leonardo Bonucci found ex Liverpool  man Suso in space and he fired in a finish beyond the advancing Lee Grant.
Sanchez went close once more from a corner and the impressive Andreas Pereira - who has really made a name for himself during pre-season - flashed a shot wide. The Reds looked dangerous with every attack and a blistering break - started by Scott McTominay's and also involving Alexis - culminated with Ander Herrera's effort from distance which was tipped behind by the diving Donnarumma. The keeper was being kept busy by United's potency, as he was called into action again to deny Juan Mata before he smothered McTominay's looping header on goal.

At the other end, Davide Calabria fired straight at Lee Grant and Eric Bailly blocked bravely from Franck Kessie in the final action of an action-packed first half.
McTominay then forced Donnarumma into another save and his replacement - ex Liverpool stopper Pepe Reina - was called upon straight away when he denied Luke Shaw and then Mata twice in quick succession. Fabio Borini struck a post, Pereira went close again and Suso headed off target in a frantic finale to proceedings.
Penalties were needed to decide the content, and a seemingly low-key shootout instead turned into an epic, sudden death, topsy turvy tale. After both sides traded successful spot kicks - Pereira, Alexis, Ander Herrera, Chris Smalling, Axel Tuanzebe, Matteo Darmian and substitute Timothy Fosu - Mensah all scored for us, as Reina and Joel Pereira made three saves apiece. After Pereira's second put United 8-7 up, Calhanoglu levelled and Herrera scored for the second time. That paved the way for Franck Kessie, who blasted over the bar with the 26th spot kick of the shootout, to bring a marathon and exhausting contest to an end.

United: Grant (J.Pereira 46); Bailly, Smalling, Tuanzebe; Darmian, Herrera, A Pereira, McTominay, Shaw (Fosu - Mensah 74); Mata (Hamilton 89), Alexis Sanchez.
United Faithful Man of the Match: Alexis Sanchez.

Understrength tour far from ideal preparation for 2018-19

I know its only pre-season, I know the results of these friendlies don't matter, and as fans its great to see the next generation of our club's youth prospects being given a chance to show what they can do. In United's two US tour games so far, it's been great to see the likes of Angel Gomes, Tahith Chong, Mason Greenwood, Demetri Mitchell, James Garner and Andreas Pereira get run outs. For a club that prides itself on bringing through homegrown young talent, it's heart warming to see. But with so many first team players missing due to the World Cup, to have such a weakened and under-strength United side offers far from ideal preparation for the start of the new season which begins for us on 10th August. By the time 2018-19 rolls around, the senior players that will prove our key men are in danger of being undercooked and someway short of the fitness levels required. It's a delicate balance: they need a break and a breather like everyone else but also need to be playing and building match sharpness.

We shouldn't be reading too much into the two draws on Tour so far - the 1-1 with Club America and the goalless stalemate with San Jose in game two. After all, in 2015-16 we won every game in pre-season in swashbuckling style to hint at brighter things to come under Louis van Gaal. The Reds 3-5-2 formation was the talk of the town - but things fell flat and the Dutchman would be gone less than a year later. So it stands to reason that we shouldn't be too concerned by an underwhelming tour so far this time around as the team that runs out at Old Trafford for that curtain raiser with Leicester in 18 days time will be very different from the one that stuttered to a 0-0 draw against a lowly MLS side last night in the 30 degree heat of Santa Clara. There was little rhythm, pattern or tempo to United's play, but - missing Messrs Lukaku, Lingard, Fellaini, Rashford, Young, Fred, Matic, De Gea and Pogba to name but nine - is that really any surprise? Travelling Stateside with a jumbled mish-mash of fringe players, reserve/youth players and players that should be nowhere near Manchester United, there was always a risk that things would look equally as ragtag and incohesive. That's definitely showing to be the case.
  I don't care about the results, but the one thing I'm worried about with this pre-season is that with the World Cup, the lack of transfer business, with the way we are as a club at present, are we learning anything and getting in the best possible shape we can be ahead of the season. There's no signs of improvement so far, Jose does not seemed to have worked things out or tried anything different. We've known that this would be the case but nonetheless it's still frustrating and a bit worrying. Although the results are insignificant, you want to be looking for positive signs but there has been little to go on in the first two run outs. It's all been very underwhelming so far.

Tour 2018 match report: San Jose Earthquakes 0-0 United

United completed another pre-season run out with a second draw in as many Tour fixtures with MLS side San Jose Earthquakes in Santa Clara. In front of a sparse crowd, United - boosted by the delayed inclusion of returning Chilean Alexis Sanchez - fell flat as the tie petered out after a bright start.

Eric Bailly headed against the bar early on, before Antonio Valencia limped off with a knee injury three minutes later to be replaced by Matteo Darmian. With Diogo Dalot currently sidelined, wantaway Darmian - set to leave the club for Juventus - has been pressed into service as our only fit right-back despite his imminent departure.

 Alexis flashed a free-kick narrowly wide, but the Quakes - in the middle of their competitive season - started to come on strong. Joel Pereira saved well from Joel Qwiberg in the last action of the opening half.

A raft of changes inevitably followed at the break - with the Quakes changing their entire XI and Juan Mata, Timothy Fosu - Mensah, Lee Grant, Axel Tuanzebe and Scott McTominay all on for United. Georgian Vako Qazaishvili almost put Quakes ahead, but a lunging Fosu - Mensah brilliantly cleared off the line from the winger's strike from distance with Grant beaten.

Moments later, Grant was called into action as a free-kick from the same player was headed goalwards by Yefferson Quintana. At the other end, Alexis and Anthony Martial showed some neat link-up play but it came to nothing with neither man able to find the killer moment of quality to break the frustrating deadlock.
Grant was called into action again on 71 minutes with the save of the match, when he superbly tipped over the bar to deny substitute Tommy Thompson's dipping 25 yarder. From the resultant corner, Quintana headed against the bar and Eric Calvillo lashed a shot wide from close range moments later.

Angel Gomes, Mason Greenwood and Demetri Mitchell joined the fray late on, as Mourinho gave further run outs to younger squad members, but proceedings ended all square in Santa Clara. From here, United will face AC Milan, Liverpool and Real Madrid in the International Champions Cup, representing a step up in quality as a more competitive element to our pre-season preparations.

The future's bright..United's young starlets shine in Tour opener

It's a golden ethos interwoven in the very fabric of Manchester United as one just of the many characteristics that makes this club what it is. As a fan, there's nothing that warms the cockles more than seeing a batch of exciting and fresh-faced Academy graduates straight off the ever-turning homegrown production line straight into the thick of the first team set-up. For all Mourinho's naysayers as a man who doesn't nurture youth, the United manager has continued to prove those critics wrong.

With United's World Cup stars enjoying a well-deserved spot of R and R, there's a younger-than-usual look to the youthful and inexperienced squad that have travelled Stateside for United's pre-season Tour. The average age of our starting XI in the opener with Club America, a tie that ended 1-1 on Thursday, was just 25 with only two players - Antonio Valencia and Lee Grant - over 30. An unfamiliar looking team acquitted themselves well and we saw a promising glimpse into the future with the second-half introductions of seven Reds youngsters. The tour provides a golden opportunity for the Class of 2018 to shine and perhaps even stake a claim to challenge the first team status quo.

Timothy Fosu - Mensah and Axel Tuanzebe have recently returned from impressive loan spells at Palace and Villa respectively, and both came off the bench to feature against the Mexicans. Of this new batch of talented young prospects, these two are the ones most likely to challenge their senior colleagues in 2018-19, having already broken through and not looked out of place in their fledgling first team careers. Fosu - Mensah enjoyed an eye-catching 2015-16 in his debut season at Old Trafford as one of the rare bright spots in an otherwise terribly dull and dreary campaign under Louis van Gaal. Tuanzebe, meanwhile, rose to prominence having shackled his now team-mates Alexis Sanchez on his full debut in May 2017. Two weeks later, an enthralled Old Trafford witnessed the beginnings of a story that has the makings of true United fairytale. At 16 years and 263 days old, Angel Gomes became the club's youngest debutant since Duncan Edwards when he came on as a late substitute against Crystal Palace. A wonderfully gifted midfielder with intelligence, vision, pace and an impressive range of passing, Gomes has continued his upward trajectory and looks set to eventually take the first team by storm.

So too Tahith Chong. With good reason, us United fans have grown increasingly excited about the Curacao-born winger with the Marouane Fellaini-esque hairstyle. With a dearth of wingers at the club, Chong's cameo against Club America was by far the major talking point of an otherwise mundane friendly. He created the goal for Juan Mata and looked at home in the first-team environment, showing several touches and turns of pace, playing with composure and confidence. His rangy appearance and physicality should be attributes that appeal to Jose Mourinho. Having already trained with the first team, this could be Chong's time to shine. Demetri Mitchell also made his senior bow in the same game as Gomes at home to Palace before going out on loan and played an hour in Phoenix. 16-year-old forward Mason Greenwood, the youngest of the travelling party, was handed a late cameo as a substitute. United's immediate priority is to challenge for the major honours again, but you've always got to be looking to build for the future, and that future is one that appears to be bright.

Tour 2018 match report: Club America 1-1 United

Juan Mata's second half header ensured that the depleted Reds opening match of our US Tour ended all square after Henry Martin had put the Mexican side ahead in Phoenix Arizona.
Lee Grant enjoyed an impressive debut in goal for Jose's United, but with all of the World Cup stars missing, the 35-year-old was by far the oldest player in an otherwise youthful-looking XI. United started strongly, and went close early on through Anthony Martial - left out of the victorious France squad - as he flashed a shot narrowly over the bar in the twelfth minute after neat link-up play with Ander Herrera.

Moments later, the woodwork came to Club America's rescue as Mata made space inside the box and let fly through a posse of players, only for his effort bounce away to safety off a post. Agustin Marchesin saved well from Martial, before Grant was called into action for the first time at the other end to deny Club America right-back Paul Aguilar. The Mexican side were growing in confidence and Grant soon made another top stop, this time from Roger Martinez, before he then did well to claim the loose ball ahead of the onrushing forward Martin.

Joel Pereira and Timothy Fosu - Mensah both came on for the second half, but both were powerless to prevent Martin's header as he nipped in to nod home a fine cross from substitute Antonio Lopez on the hour mark. Luke Shaw - yet to score a senior goal - almost equalised instantly as he flashed an effort across goal, and Scott McTominay fired wide from distance on 68 minutes. A flurry of changes from both sides followed, including the introduction of 16-year-old Mason Greenwood, who joined Grant and 18-year-old Tahith Chong in making their first team bows. Chong looked hugely impressive during his half an hour in Red, and it was the exciting young Dutchman who set up the equaliser twelve minutes from the end.

Herrera was at the back post to meet Chong's whipped inswinging delivery, but his header rebounded back off the upright and fell to Mata who volleyed in through the legs of substitute stopper Oscar Jimenez from close range. The keeper then saved well to deny Greenwood his big moment, as he reacted well to beat away the teenager's strike from distance.

That proved to be the last action of a promising first run out for the Reds, who travel to Santa Clara to face San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday.

United: Grant (J.Pereira 46); Valencia (Fosu - Mensah 46), Bailly, Smalling, Shaw (Greenwood 76); Herrera, McTominay (Tuanzebe 87); A.Pereira, Mata (Gomes 87), Mitchell (Darmian 61); Martial (Chong 61).

Real 1-1 United: US Tour talking points

United's latest Stateside encounter ended with a 2-1 penalty shootout victory over the European and La Liga champions in Santa Clara.

We take a look at some of the major talking points from the Reds fourth Tour game in the USA.

There have been some strange sights on the Reds pre-season sojourn, from the pyrotechnics in LA to Drake's cameo in Houston and a freak storm in Salt Lake.
However, the bizarre sight of Ronald McDonald (or was it David Moyes) leading the teams out here topped the lot - with the fast food chain's mascot shaking the hands of each player before kick-off.

United lined up with largely a second string in the first half, whilst Zinedine Zidane started with his first XI for his side's opening pre-season match.
In contrast, Real's second-half team consisted mainly of reserve and youth players, with many of Jose's first choice players handed a run out after half time.

24-year-old Jesse Lingard proved a thorn in Real's full-strength defence throughout his first half appearance, a constant threat with his pace, movement and link-up play.

Having gone close three times with efforts from distance, Lingard capped a superb individual performance with a goal and stood out as his side's most impressive player in the first half.

Cristiano Ronaldo has not travelled to the USA with his Real team-mates, having taken the summer off following his Confederations Cup exploits with Portugal.
His country finished third in that tournament, which only finished three weeks ago. 

It remains unclear when he will return for Los Blancos, although it seems likely that he will play for them against United in the UEFA Super Cup on 8 August. 

Boss Jose Mourinho confirmed that long-time Real target David de Gea is "100% staying" at Old Trafford, with the Reds having rebuffed a £60m from the club for the goalkeeper in May.

The United manager admitted, however, that De Gea faces stiff competition from Argentine Sergio Romero, who proved to be his able deputy whenever called upon last term.

The Reds will conclude their 18-day trip to the US with another eagerly anticipated heavyweight clash against Spanish giants, this time in the shape of Ernesto Valverde's Barcelona on Wednesday. 

Following the completion of our pre-season, with further matches against Valerenga and Sampdoria to come, Real will provide the opposition once more in the Super Cup meeting in Macedonia. 

That will provide a stern test for United and the chance to lift silverware ahead of the start of the Premier League season. 

Pre-season Tour: United 1-1 Real Madrid (2-1 on penalties)

United edged out Zinedine Zidane's European champions on penalties in Santa Clara after Casemiro cancelled out Jesse Lingard's exquisite opener. 

The Reds - who will lock horns with the Spanish giants again in the UEFA  Super Cup on 8 August - were involved in one of the comically awful shoot-outs ever witnessed. 

Only three of the ten spot-kicks found the target, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Daley Blind and Real's Miguel Quezada the only players to be successful from 12 yards. 

Martial, Mateo Kovacic, Scott McTominay and Oscar missed the opening four penalties, before Mkhitaryan and Quezada both scored.
Lindelof and Real's new signing Theo Hernandez then also both failed to covert, but Blind made it 2-1 and Casemiro struck the bar with the final effort to conclude a 2-1 success for the Reds. 

Lingard called Keylor Navas into action with an early effort from distance, and went close again with a 25-yard yarder that drifted narrowly wide shortly afterwards.

The Academy graduate was United's most impressive performer, and he capped a superb individual showing with a deserved goal on the stroke of half time.
It was a strike indebted to a breathtaking solo run by Martial, who slalomed beyond five Real players and cut the ball back for the lurking Lingard who applied the finish. 

Marcelo had an instant reply ruled out for offside before the usual raft of half-time changes by both bosses to give all squad members a handy run-out.
Jose made eight substitutions at the interval and was forced to make a ninth six minutes later when Ander Herrera struggled off clutching his ribs, replaced by young Academy player McTominay. 


Debutant Hernandez went down under a mistimed challenge from Lindelof and Casemiro stepped up to slam home the spot-kick beyond David de Gea.

Eight minutes later, play was halted for a second time for a water break to keep both sets of players hydrated in the searing Californian heat.
Marouane Fellaini fired wide late on when well placed, before - despite only being a pre-season fixture - penalties would be needed to determine the winner. 

United: Romero (De Gea 46); Fosu - Mensah (Blind 46), Bailly (Lindelof 46), Jones (Smalling 46), Darmian (Valencia 78); Carrick (Herrera 46) (McTominay 51), Fellaini; Pereira (Pogba 46), Lingard (Mkhitaryan 46), Martial; Rashford (Lukaku 46). 
Real Madrid: Keylor Navas; Carvajal (Hakimi 46), Varane (Quezada 46), Nacho (Manu 46), Marcelo; Modric (Kovacic 46), Kroos, Isco (Oscar 46); Lucas Vazquez (T Hernandez 46), Benzema (Gomez 46), Bale (Franchu 46). 

US Tour: United 2-0 City

Romelu Lukaku scored for the second time in as many games as United won the first ever Manchester derby to be played on foreign soil.

The Reds winning Tour run continued in Houston as Lukaku and Marcus Rashford - paired up front together for the first time - hit a quickfire double shortly before the break. 

The two sides had been scheduled to meet during last year's pre-season schedule, only for the match in Beijing to be called off due to an unfit pitch. 

For United, it was a third win from three matches in the US following the thrashing of LA Galaxy and the narrow, fiery 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake.

Ander Herrera went close from distance inside the opening five minutes, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan then had a snap-shot pushed away by new City keeper Ederson.

David de Gea twice saved well from Raheem Sterling, before Chris Smalling recovered well from a slip to block from Patrick Roberts and Sterling again. 

United made the decisive breakthrough eight minutes shy of the interval, however, as our £75m signing showcased the extent of his impressive repertoire. 

Paul Pogba's sublime outside-of-the-foot pass picked out Lukaku, who outpaced the advancing Ederson, knocked the ball around him and slammed home a brilliant finish from an acute angle.

Tow minutes later, United moved 2-0 ahead through Rashford, who fired in from close range after excellent work from Mkhitaryan in the build up. 

Despite the usual raft of changes from Messrs Mourinho and Guardiola at the interval, United continued to keep up the pressure and could've moved further ahead by the hour mark. 

Rashford went for the spectacular and forced a good save from Ederson, and Lukaku then headed wide before he later rattled the crossbar.

City youngster Phil Foden went close with a lob at the other end, whilst Leroy Sane was narrowly off-target with a strike from distance. 

United substitute Phil Jones was denied a rare goal by Ederson's incredible triple save from a corner late on, but the match - and with it the bragging rights - was already wrapped up. 

United: De Gea (Romero 46); Valencia (Fosu - Mensah 78), Lindelof (Bailly 46), Smalling (Jones 46), Blind (Darmian 46); Mkhitaryan (Carrick 62), Pogba, Herrera (Fellaini 62), Lingard (A Pereira 77); Rashford (Martial 62), Lukaku. 
City: Ederson; Walker, Adarabioyo (Mangala 46), Kompany (Stones 46), Fernandinho; De Bruyne (Otamendi 46), Yaya Toure (Diaz 46); Sterling (Nasri 46), Roberts (Sane 46), Foden (Zinchenko 75); Aguero (de Jesus 46). 

Pre-season Tour: LA Galaxy 2-5 United

United kicked off their 2017 Stateside Tour in impressive fashion after another comprehensive win over LA Galaxy.

The Reds had brushed aside the same opponents with a 7-0 scoreline in the last meeting in 2014 ago and picked up where they left off in this year's opener.

Marcus Rashford scored twice and further goals from Marouane Fellaini, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Anthony Martial completed the rout in the first of seven matches 'across the pond'. Jose

United fielded two different line-ups - one in each half - at the StubHub Centre in a match that also saw debuts for new signings Victor Lindelof and £75m man Romelu Lukaku.

Jose Mourinho's side went ahead inside two minutes through Rashford, who swept home a clinical finish from close range after good work from Jesse Lingard.

Juan Mata had an effort saved by Galaxy keeper Jon Kempin and the Spaniard was involved again as United moved 2-0 ahead after 20 minutes.

Ander Herrera and new captain Michael Carrick linked up well for the latter to pick out Mata whom in turn found Rashford to apply another excellent finish.

Six minutes later, it was 3-0 when Lingard burst into the box, turned and found Fellaini who smashed the ball home.

Lingard and Mata both went close in quick succession and Chris Smalling then had a goal chalked out for an offside infringement shortly before the break.

As promised, Jose utilised a completely different XI for the second half to give as many players as possible a run-out.

Two of the new arrivals were debutants Lindelof and Lukaku, and the latter almost scored with his first touch three minutes after coming on, but Kempin saved well. 

Martial and Mkhitaryan were also denied by the Galaxy keeper, but Kempin could do little to stop the Armenian for United's fourth goal on 67 minutes.

Mkhitaryan collected the ball in midfield, found Martial and then received the Frenchman's clever reverse pass to slot home.
Martial himself then finished with aplomb having been set up by Tim Fosu - Mensah for the fifth with 18 minutes to play.

The Galaxy pulled two goals back in the closing stages, both through former Spurs and Barcelona man Giovani dos Santos, but that proved little more than a consolation. 

United first half: De Gea; Valencia, Jones, Smalling, Blind; Carrick, Herrera, Fellaini; Mata, Rashford, Lingard.
United second half: J Pereira; Tuanzebe, Lindelof, Bailly, Darmian; Fosu - Mensah (Mitchell 85), Pogba; A Pereira, Mkhitaryan, Martial; Lukaku. 

United jet out for annual pre-season Tour

A 27-man United squad flew out to Los Angeles on Sunday as the club return to the USA for our annual pre-season tour.

Jose Mourinho and the team will face five matches Stateside, with new signing Victor Lindelof and youngsters Scott McTominay and Demetri Mitchell on the squad list. 

This is the Reds third successive pre-season trip to the USA with United once more set to participate in the oddly-named International Champions Cup. 

The tour kicks off on Saturday against LA Galaxy at the StubHub Centre - looking for a repeat of the 7-0 victory last year -  before we face another Major League Soccer side, Real Salt Lake, 48 hours later.

A mouthwatering meeting with Manchester City, in the first ever overseas derby, will then follow on 20 July in Houston as we go head-to-head with a familiar foe on unfamiliar territory. 

The Reds then conclude the US leg of the tour with a further pair of heavyweight clashes against La Liga giants.

We face Super Cup opponents Real Madrid on 23 July in Santa Clara, and Barcelona three days later in the capital, Washington DC. 

Having returned from the States, Mourinho's men will play two more tour matches, against Valerenga in Oslo (30 July) and Sampdoria (2 August) in Dublin. 

For the fans, it will be the first opportunity to see Swedish international Lindelof at the heart of the defence, as the squad look to build fitness and their competitive edge ahead of the season opener. 

For youngsters McTominay, Mitchell and Axel Tuanzebe, the tour is their big chance to impress their manager as he prepares to finalise his Premier League squad for 2017-18. 

As well as the seven high-profile pre season fixtures, the Reds have the chance to win yet more silverware in the shape of the UEFA Super Cup.
That takes place in Skopje on August 8 and pits  Europa League winners United against Champions League holders Real for a second meeting in as many weeks. 

Tour 2017 schedule:

15 July LA Galaxy v United, StubHub Centre
17 July Real Salt Lake v United, Rio Tinto Stadium
20 July Manchester City v United, NRG Stadium
23 July United v Real Madrid, Levi's Stadium
26 July, United v Barcelona, FedEx Field
30 July, Valerenga IF v United, Ullevaal Stadium
2 August, UC Sampdoria v United, Aviva Stadium

Travelling tour squad: De Gea, Romero, J Pereira
Darmian, Fosu - Mensah, Valencia, Bailly, Blind, Jones, Lindelof, Rojo, Smalling, Tuanzebe, Mitchell
Shaw, Carrick, Fellaini, Herrera, McTominay, Pogba, Lingard, Mata, Mkhitaryan, A Pereira, Young
Martial, Rashford 

United to celebrate Rooney in fundraising testimonial

Wayne Rooney's testimonial match against his former club Everton will take place on Wednesday to mark the first in a series of fundraising events by the United and England skipper.

The match will give fans a first chance to watch Jose Mourinho's new-look outfit at Old Trafford in what will be a first pre-season fixture on home turf for two years.
The FA Cup - won in dramatic style in May - will also be on display during the match.

Paying tribute to Rooney, Mourinho praised the loyalty and longevity of his captain, and said:

"Wayne is and has been England's best player for over a decade and this game will be a fitting tribute to everything he has achieved.
"I'm looking forward to what will be a very special night for us both and I'm sure the fans will make this a memorable occasion and help Wayne to raise a lot of money to help support vulnerable children and young adults."

All proceeds from the testimonial match, celebrating Wayne's 12 remarkable years with United since his then-record transfer from Everton as a teenager, will be distributed through the newly-launched Wayne Rooney Foundation to four chosen charities (the NSPCC, Claire House Children's Hospice, Alder Hey Children's Hospital and the Manchester United Foundation.)

Each has been personally selected by the man himself because of his commitment to the organisations and the children they help.
Money raised by the Foundation will enable each charity to create legacy projects providing expert help for a generation of children faced with health conditions, abuse and educational difficulties.

Rooney said:

"For me, there could not be a more special testimonial match as United and Everton are the only clubs I have ever played for as a professional and both have a place in my heart.
"I owe United and Everton everything for giving me football opportunities and through the Wayne Rooney Foundation I want to give something back and say a heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported and helped me throughout my career.
"Having a young family of my own makes me realise it's vital that every child and young person gets the opportunity to grow up surrounded by love and support to give them a chance of fulfilling their potential."

The match will provide a spectacular lift-off for a testimonial year of fundraising by The Wayne Rooney Foundation with other events set to be announced in due course. 

Wednesday's match is a 2000 GMT kick off and is the last of United's pre-season programme with attention set to turn to Sunday's domestic Community Shield curtain raiser against Premier League champions Leicester City at Wembley. 

Pre season: United 5-2 Galatasaray

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored four minutes into his United debut as Jose Mourinho's side staged a stirring second half comeback against the Turkish champions in Stockholm.

The 34-year-old scored in his homeland with an acrobatic overhead but Gala bossed the remainder of the half and led at the interval through Sinus Gumus and Bruma.

Wayne Rooney turned the game on its head for a much-changed Reds side with a quickfire brace after the break and further goals from Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata added gloss to the scoreline.

The result was largely a footnote, but the presence of Ibrahimovic in the United line-up ensured that this was far from a routine friendly and he justified the attention with an impressive impact.

Zlatan met Antonio Valencia's run and cross with a typically athletic bicycle kick that bounced into the turf and beyond the sprawling Fernando Muslera inside five minutes.

Ander Herrera went close but despite rarely threatening up until then, the Turkish side were level on 22 minutes.

Having put the Reds ahead, Ibrahimovic conceded the set piece from which one-time United target Wesley Sneijder picked out Gumus to head home beyond David De Gea.

Suddenly, Galatasaray assumed control as the Spaniard saved twice in quick succession- first from Sneijder and then Yason Oztekin.
He was powerless to prevent the Turks taking the lead, however, when Bruma played a one-two with Gumus and curled in a beauty from 20 yards with five first half minutes to play.

Jose Mourinho made five changes at the break and it did not take long for his new look- literally- (United were playing in the new white away kit)- to equalise upon the resumption.

Marcus Rashford fed Valencia whom in turn burst free down the right and crossed for Rooney to slam in a finish from close range on 55 minutes.

Shortly afterwards, United found themselves ahead thanks to a sensational piece of skill and pace from Rashford.
The young striker raced on to Rooney's excellent through ball to skip past Serdar Aziz, burst into the box and looked poised to shoot until he went down under a challenge from the onrushing Muslera.

Rooney stepped up to fire in the resultant spot-kick and, from then on, the rampant Reds never looked back.

Marouane Fellaini looped home an excellent header from Valencia's cross at the culmination of a neat move, De Gea saved well from Oztekin at the other end before a further six substitutions from Mourinho. 

Carrick and Mata linked up for the latter to sweep in the fifth to complete what was now a rout as United warmed up for next week's Community Shield match in style in Gothenburg.

United: De Gea (Romero 67); Valencia (Memphis 67), Bailly (Rojo 67), Blind (Jones 67), Shaw (Darmian 67); Schneiderlin (Carrick 46), Herrera (Fellaini 46); Mkhitaryan (Lingard 46), Rooney (Mata 67), Martial (Young 46); Ibrahimovic (Rashford 46). 

Man of the Match: Antonio Valencia. 

Carrick satisfied with Tour tests as United focus on Spurs opener

Michael Carrick believes United are in good shape for the start of the Barclays Premier League campaign, thanks to the tests provided by the four games in the States.

The US Tour came to a close with a 2-0 defeat to Paris St-Germain in Chicago, ending the Reds run of three successive pre-season wins.

Carrick feels that United can take plenty from the encounter against the French champions going into the season's opener against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford next weekend. 

"It's all about Tottenham- that's what we've been saying and working towards since  we got here- that's when the business really starts" the midfielder said.

"We've had some good games over here to get us ready.
"If the games are too easy you don't get enough out of them so the Barcelona game and this one have been good for us and we can take a lot into the Tottenham game.
"PSG are a very good team with some world-class players so it was a good test for us to see how fit we are and where we're at.

"I thought we played some good stuff at times and we were disappointed to go 2-0 down in the first half and then after that they shut us down and made it difficult for us to create anything.
"There were a few tired legs at the end of the game, with the heat and humidity, but it was a good workout for us."
Youngster Sean Goss was given a first taste of senior action when he came on for the final 10 minutes, replacing Carrick.
"It's always great to see the young players getting a chance and the opportunity for Sean to come away on tour was probably a bonus for him in many ways.
"So to come away and train, and then get 10 minutes at the end, is great for him and will probably make him even more hungry to succeed." Carrick added. 

Tour 2015: United 0-2 PSG

United signed off their US Tour with defeat to French champions PSG in Chicago but this was a game that LVG and his side will take plenty of positives from.

The Reds came into the match with three wins from three on Tour, but indecision at the back was United's undoing and, despite creating numerous chances, we slipped to defeat through an won goal from Luke Shaw and Zlatan Ibrahimovic's 34th-minute strike.

One of the plus points from the game was the continued development of the partnership between Memphis and Wayne Rooney, and the pair looked lively early on.
In the 17th minute, Depay was presented with a golden chance to put the Reds ahead  when a lovely ball from Bastian Schweinsteiger found Rooney, who slipped in Memphis, but he could only blast the effort wide.

PSG went close soon afterwards when Ibrahimovic headed a Lucas Moura corner narrowly wide, while the Reds did put the ball in on 22 minutes through Juan Mata, but he was flagged offside.

Against the run of play, PSG took the lead three minutes later after confusion in the United back-line.
A long ball forward was chased down by Blaise Matudi and, as Phil Jones and Shaw chased back, De Gea raced from his goal and was left stranded when SHaw's inadvertent touch rolled past him and into the net.

Rooney went close twice in quick succession when he flashed a couple of efforts narrowly over the bar before PSG doubled their advantage through Ibrahimovic, who picked up the ball in midfield, played a one-two with Maxwell before slotting home unmarked for close range.

Memphis had a free-kick well saved by Kevin Trapp shortly before the interval  but the Reds went in at the break two down with a tough job in the second half to preserve our 100% record on the Tour.

Sam Johnstone, Andreas Pereira and Morgan Schneiderlin were all introduced at the break, and the Brazilian played in Rooney- who in turn picked out Depay- but the Dutchman's effort lacked power and failed to trouble Trapp. 

PSG held firm at the back thereafter, with the Reds unable to mount a fightback, and LVG's men now return to Manchester to continue preparations for the start of the new campaign, with all the focus now on ensuring a winning start to the competitive season.

United sign Sergio Romero as keeper cover

United have signed Argentinian goalkeeper Sergio Romero as a result of the ongoing uncertainty over David de Gea.

28-year-old Romero was a free agent after leaving Serie A side Sampdoria and will replace back-up keeper Victor Valdes, who has been told he can leave by Louis van Gaal.

Romero, who has signed a three-year deal played in the 2014 World Cup final and won the 2008/09 Eredivisie title under Van Gaal at AZ.

De Gea is into the final year of his contract and is wanted by Real Madrid.

There's no way that United are going to allow Dave to leave for free, but Van Gaal is covering all bases and preparing for whatever De Gea's intentions are. 

"We have to prepare our season with the threat that David de Gea is going to Madrid, of course, we do not know this yet but you have to be ready in advance" said Van Gaal. 

Should De Gea stay at United, van Gaal has said that the Spaniard may not be an automatic pick in goal.

"You always need competition" added the Dutchman.
"When I see that a player is better than the player in the line-up, then he shall play the next match."

Romero, who saved two penalties in a semi-final shootout as his side knocked out LVG's Netherlands en route to the final, has 62 caps.

"He is a very dominating goalkeeper, he is strong in the 60-metre area and his stature is also tall and he gives a lot of confidence to the players, so of course this is very good.

"He has to learn English because that is also a problem always with a foreign player.
"He is very good with his feet, so he fits in our profile- I have a lot of confidence that he can fulfil what we are expecting."

Blossoming young talents shine in pre-season win

United's hugely promising performance against Barcelona in Santa Clara on Saturday was noteworthy not just because of the result but also because of the impact and contribution of several of the younger members of the squad.

The Reds have always championed youth and Academy graduates and, despite the massive outlay in incoming foreign talent since LVG took charge, the emphasis on youth is still at the forefront of his philosophy.

Of the XI who finished the game against Barcelona, seven had come through United's youth teams. 

There is nothing United fans enjoy more than seeing a promising home-grown youngster develop into a world star, and for me, one in particular stood out on Saturday: Jesse Lingard.

Despite standing out as a leading light on the last two pre-season Tours for United, his best moments have come away from Old Trafford on loan, but I feel sure that he would have made an impact at OT last season if it wasn't for that injury sustained against Swansea on the opening day.

His well-taken goal (with fellow Academy graduates James Wilson and Tyler Blackett involved in the build-up) spoke volumes of his confidence, composure and eye for the spectacular.

There were also signs that Adnan Januzaj, who endured a difficult campaign last term after a brilliant debut season in 2013/14, is beginning to rediscover the kind of form that had him touted as the next big thing at United.

He scored the decisive third goal with a clinical break-away finish and set United on the attack with several mazy, incisive bursts forward.
It was an impressive run-out as a substitute and good to see Adnan catching the eye once more. 

Blackett, who was used sparingly by LVG last season and at times struggled, looked a totally different proposition with many surging runs forward from left-back, some tidy interceptions and an assist for the Reds second goal. 

Performing well on the pre-season tour is one thing, but stepping up to the mark in the high-pressure, high-octane, testosterone-filled world of top level football is quite another and there have been many examples of burgeoning young talents falling by the wayside when the going gets tough.
However, it would be of serious disservice to this batch of youngsters if LVG doesn't at least consider the likes of Lingard, Andreas Pereira (who also impressed on Saturday), James Wilson (for me, the jury is still out on the young striker) and Januzaj for the opening match against Spurs and both domestic cup campaigns at the very least.

The future's bright, the future's red and white. 

Four new signings shine against Club America

Manchester United's four new signings- Memphis Depay, Morgan Schneiderlin, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Matteo Darmian- all completed 45 minutes during the Reds 1-0 win over Club America, all of them impressing on their first outing for the club.

Schneiderlin's looping header after five minutes was the only goal of a testing first outing in the US, but the attacking intent of Depay, the forward forages of full-back Darmian and the cool-as-you-like midfield mastery of Schweinsteiger also caught the eye.

Memphis, Darmian and Schneiderlin all started the first half whilst 11 changes at the break paved the way for the introduction of World Cup-winner Schweinsteiger.

Second-half captain Chris Smalling, said of the new signings: 

"I thought they were brilliant, they clicked like they've been here a while and it's promising for the new season."

He reserved special praise for Schweinsteiger, who operated just in front of the back for in a midfield holding role.

"It's brilliant to know he's there just in front of the defence", Smalling told MUTV.
"He sucks players in and then plays the pass just at the right moment."

But match-winner Morgan can rightly claim the headlines as he Tour 2015, presented by AON, off to a winning start.
He told MUTV: "It's good to start with a win, the first game is about doing what the manager wants from us, we did our best and there's a few things to work on but it's our first game.
"We want to get ready and be ready for the Premier League."
"We worked a lot on set-pieces and I was told to get to the far post, I was happy to get to the ball and it was a great cross from Mata for me to score.
"I am very happy to score in my first game for United, but the main thing is to get fitness in the first game in pre-season."