Manager Jose Mourinho is happy with his youthful Manchester United team despite a 1-0 friendly defeat at Bayern Munich on Sunday night. Not only that. Mourinho also expressed his delight that United’s stuttering pre-season campaign is over and that thoughts can turn to the Premier League.
Mourinho was once again without some of his key players due to their involvement in the latter stages of the World Cup, including Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku and Jesse Lingard.
And, during the second half at the Allianz Arena, the United manager brought on academy prospects James Garner, Axel Tuanzebe, Tahith Chong and Demetri Mitchell to take on experienced internationals such as Robert Lewandowski and Arjen Robben.
“Finally, it’s over. Finally, such a difficult pre-season is over,” Mourinho told MUTV.
“The players were, once more, brilliant. They could not have done better than what they did, fantastic experience for the boys.
“There was a moment I was looking to the area and there was Axel at centre-back to left, Demetri at left wing-back, Garner in midfield on the left and Chong. At the same time it was Lewandowski on Axel, Robben on Mitchell, (Leon) Goretzka on Garner and (Niklas) Sule on Chong.
“It was fantastic, absolutely fantastic.
“We were playing against their best team, it was their complete squad apart from (Corentin) Tolisso.”
Forward Marcus Rashford donned the number 10 shirt, with United later confirming he would keep the squad number, previously worn by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney, for the coming season.
“Yeah, he wanted it, he always wanted it,” Mourinho said of Rashford’s switch from 19 to 10.
“Of course, he respected the big Rooney and then Zlatan wanted to have it. He was in the shadow, waiting for the opportunity, and now the shirt is empty. It’s something fantastic for the kid, let’s give the shirt to him.”
Mourinho and Manchester United will now prepare for their Premier League opener against Leicester on Friday – and the Portuguese boss is not expecting to have his first-choice team available.
He added: “We have to organise the week in a way so we can be fresh for Friday because, on Friday, the Premier League starts.
“We play for points and it’s with the players we have. There is no time to cry. Players are not going to be here on Friday and we have to go with best possible team and with a great mentality.”
United failed to register a shot on target and mustered just one shot on goal as Javi Martinez’s second-half header separated the teams in what was a very lacklustre affair, completely dominated by the German champions.
The returning Marcus Rashford played 65 minutes and Fred impressed in midfield but Jose Mourinho will be sweating over the fitness of Eric Bailly, who hobbled off in the second half.
United play their first Premier League fixture of the season against Leicester on Friday Night Football but will likely be without Romelu Lukaku, Jesse Lingard, Paul Pogba, Marouane Fellaini and Ashley Young, who have yet to play any minutes in pre-season following their World Cup exploits.
Alexis Sanchez was handed the captain’s armband after a string of influential performances in pre-season and he was supported by Juan Mata and Rashford in attack with Fred partnering Ander Herrera in central midfield.
The winning goal came on 59 minutes when Martinez rose above Rashford to nod home an inswinging corner from Arjen Robben.
Bayern completely bossed the ball and enjoyed 71 per cent possession while United’s only shot on goal came on 62 minutes when Fred hit a hopeful drive well wide from 30 yards.
The best of a mediocre bunch. Quick with the ball and very keen to impress, the Brazilian followed up his faultless showing against Real Madrid with another energetic performance.