Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has a tough task on his hands as he looks to make the club a force again following an awful season last time.
The Red Devils have made two good signings as they wrapped up the transfers of two 21-year-olds – Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James.
The former champions have a busy pre-season as they travel to Australia, China, Singapore, and then return England.
Manchester United kick off pre-season against Perth Glory on July 13th, and then play the likes of Leeds United, Tottenham, Inter Milan and AC Milan.
After a dismal 2018-19 season, the United players have a lot to prove and some will have to impress right from the get-go to get an opportunity in the first team once the season kicks off.
Let’s take a look at 3 Manchester United players who need to make a statement in pre-season:
Paul Pogba
Much of the talk about Paul Pogba has been about his future and how he wants “a new challenge”, while his agent Mino Raiola has publicly said that his client wants to leave the Red Devils.
However, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said in his press conference that they have not received any bids for any players and that Pogba is an important part of the club and will not leave United.
If that is the case, Pogba will have to redeem himself in front of the United faithful, while also shushing his critics who have been very vocal in their criticism of the French midfielder.
Pogba needs to boss and lead the team on the pitch, while also showing the United fans that he wants to help the team get back to their best.
Marcus Rashford
It is quite clear that Solskjaer is a fan of Marcus Rashford and he sees the English striker as a better option than £75 million signing Romelu Lukaku, who could be exiting United before the season begins.
Rashford has the talent and temperament to be a very good player, but he hasn’t been consistent enough.
With him now the No. 1 striker at United, Rashford will have to score, assist and contribute heavily in the attacking side of things for the club in pre-season and show the United manager that he is good enough to be the Red Devils’ first choice striker.
Mason Greenwood
17-year-old striker Mason Greenwood has been very impressive for Manchester United in age group football as well as United’s reserve team, and he even brought his direct running and front-foot forward approach to the senior team in the closing stages of last season.
Solskjaer and the United management think highly of the teenager, with the United manager even revealing that Greenwood would feature more in the 2019-20 season.
The pre-season could be a great opportunity for Greenwood to show that he can be the second or third-choice striker for United in the next season and develop his career further with some good performances on the pitch.
