How Manchester United's players rated against Melbourne Victory

MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYER RATINGS: Anthony Martial and Jadon Sancho shone again and Zidane Iqbal was absolutely fearless… but Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly all give Erik ten Hag cause for concern in flat-footed defence

  • Manchester United beat Melbourne Victory 4-1 in their second pre-season game
  • They came from behind after sluggish defence conceded after five minutes
  • Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof didn’t cover themselves in glory for the goal
  • Eric Bailly made some sloppy errors after break but then supplied an assist
  • Anthony Martial, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford looked sharp in attack
  • Youngsters Zidane Iqbal and Charlie Savage made a positive impression 

Manchester United continued their winning start to pre-season with a 4-1 win over A-League side Melbourne Victory in the first of three matches in Australia.

After falling behind inside five minutes, they fought back and won comfortably thanks to strikes by Scott McTominay, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and an own goal.

Sportsmail assesses each of the United players involved in our player ratings.

Manchester United celebrate Marcus Rashford’s third goal during a 4-1 victory in Melbourne

Tom Heaton 6

Not called into action too frequently having been left exposed for Victory’s early opener. Dealt efficiently with incoming crosses and the few set-pieces the hosts were able to win.

Diogo Dalot 7

Worked well in tandem with Jadon Sancho to create a threat down the United right during the opening half and reached the byline on numerous occasions to get decent crosses or cut-backs into the area.

Harry Maguire 5

United’s captain appeared for the first time under Ten Hag and within minutes had prompted painful flashbacks to last season’s struggles when caught flat-footed for Melbourne’s opening goal. 

It merely underlined the need for United to sign a more nimble centre-back to play alongside him. Was solid enough thereafter and looped a header just over the bar in the other penalty box.

Harry Maguire was caught off-guard by Melbourne Victory’s opening goal after five minutes

Victor Lindelof 5

His lack of mobility was brutally exposed when Ben Folami raced away from him to set up the opening goal after Lindelof for some reason found himself on the left touchline. Serious doubts remain and Ten Hag will be anxious to get a deal for Lisandro Martinez over the line soon.

Luke Shaw 6

Most of United’s first-half attacking intent flowed down the opposite flank but Shaw did little wrong after being caught upfield for the Victory goal. Delivered some of the more accurate corners and crosses.

Scott McTominay 7

A typically tenacious display from a player eagerly trying to prove his worth in defensive midfield to Ten Hag as United chase Frenkie de Jong. His goal owed everything to the deflection off a defender’s boot that deceived the keeper but the good fortune was merited by his work ethic.

Scott McTominay was the man to haul United back onto level terms with a deflected effort

Fred 6

Unable to replicate his delightful chip in the Liverpool game but wasn’t for the want of trying. Two long-range efforts went high and wide, with several team-mates barracking him for choosing to shoot with the first of them. Needs to learn that a pass is often the better option rather than the speculative hit.

Anthony Elanga 6.5

A lively enough display for the youngster but not the brightest member of the forward line. He floated in a nice cross that Martial should have done better with, played a small hand in Martial’s goal and showed some nice touches without troubling too much with his pace.

Bruno Fernandes 6.5

Saw a good chance saved during the first period after Jadon Sancho slipped him through inside the box. We witnessed a few of his trademark ‘low percentage’ passes that came off and he linked the play neatly as normal but hardly a vintage display.

Bruno Fernandes drives United forward during a first half in which they came from behind

Jadon Sancho 7.5

Bristling with intent as he aims to hit the ground running ahead of his second season at Old Trafford. Made good progress and forced the defenders back every time he picked up the ball. 

Slipped in Fernandes with a superb through ball and combined well with Dalot and others. Enjoyed coming inside to drive at the heart of the Victory back line, perhaps something Ten Hag has encouraged.

Anthony Martial 8

Another good outing for a player who is doing his best to impress the new manager and show he deserves to stay at Old Trafford. After netting against Liverpool, he was on target again here with an assured close range finish that he couldn’t really miss. 

More impressive was his constant willingness to drop deep to link up the play and, against all odds, he may have a United future after all.

Anthony Martial continued his encouraging start to pre-season by scoring from close range

Tyrell Malacia 6.5

The newcomer is still settling in at United but he was able to indulge his abilities pushing forward against an opponent who sat deep and compact. The highlight was an inch-perfect cross that found Rashford’s head but he couldn’t generate enough power.

Alex Telles 6

Once again slotted in at centre-half in the absence of Raphael Varane and didn’t do anything wrong under the light pressure Victory were able to exert. Will hope to return to his regular left-back position before the end of pre-season.

Eric Bailly 5

Looked a liability at the back as he twice surrendered possession in dangerous positions with loose touches or slack passing. It merely confirmed the look of a man who knows he’s on his way out of Old Trafford sooner rather than later. 

But Bailly atoned by playing the defence-splitting pass to release Rashford to score the third.

Ethan Laird 6.5

Basically assumed a wing-back role with Victory camped in their own penalty box more and more as their legs tired after he break. More than willing to bomb forward down the right in support of the attack and linked up very nicely with the other young guns in the team. His development will be interesting to watch in the season ahead.

Zidane Iqbal 7

Absolutely fearless display from the 19-year-old Iraq international, who looks a promising talent. The highlight was a midfield pirouette away from two defenders his namesake would have been proud of during his Juventus and Real Madrid days. Fans were raving over Iqbal on social media afterwards and rightly so.

Zidane Iqbal impressed for United after coming on for the second half at the MCG

Charlie Savage 7

Showed his natural composure with an ice-cool clearance under pressure right in front of his own goal and he mopped up Bailly’s mistakes on a couple of occasions. Showed his abilities playing forward with a lofted ball to Rashford, who has strayed offside. Another academy player we’d like to see more of.

Donny van de Beek 6.5

Looked good in patches and wasn’t afraid to push on into the box to get within sight of goal after Ten Hag spoke in the lead-up about Van de Beek being best as a No 10. Didn’t show enough to suggest he’ll be displacing Fernandes there anytime soon but things can surely only get better now he has been reunited with his former Ajax mentor.

Tahith Chong 7

A solid enough performance from another academy graduate who has been out on loan for most of his United career. His dangerous cross led to the own goal that sealed the win. Liked to bustle forward with the ball and will surely feature again in pre-season as Ten Hag decides what to do with him.

Marcus Rashford 7

Another step in the right direction for Rashford, whose decision to put in the hard yards and hit the gym when on holiday last month appears to be paying off with a restored sharpness. 

His finish for the third goal was unerring after showing a burst of pace to break through. Might have added a second with other openings. A bit too premature to proclaim that Rashford is back but he’ll feel a lot better.

Marcus Rashford capped a strong second half display with a neat finish for United’s third goal

Amad Diallo 6

A couple of sharp forward bursts but not as eye-catching as others in the attack. The 20-year-old still has plenty of time on his side and Ten Hag may decide that another loan spell will be best. His pre-season audition isn’t over yet, however.

MANAGER

Erik ten Hag 7

This was a very different test to the Liverpool game as United were confronted by opposition content to sit back, even more so after they scored after five minutes. 

United will be challenged the break down many such defences in the season ahead so there was some early encouragement that they managed to do so here.

There are early signs that United will become a team eager to dominate possession and press the opposition hard, rather than hit on the counter. 

The way every member of the side dropped back when possession was lost was also a promising sign as the Dutchman tries to make his imprint.

Erik ten Hag will be happy enough with United’s latest pre-season performance




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