Can Bayern pair sort Man Utd’s defensive ‘problems’?

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was referring to injury problems in his squad when he said “it’s clear we have problems” after their penalty shootout Community Shield loss to Manchester City.

But Ten Hag knows the issue goes wider than that, which is why United are hoping to be able to confirm the signings of Bayern Munich pair Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui over the next few days.

United were seconds away from adding a Community Shield triumph over Manchester City to their FA Cup success against the same opponents on Saturday when their hopes were dashed in somewhat predictable fashion.

The sight of Bernardo Silva rising highest at the far post would normally have raised an eyebrow but the player he beat to the header was Facundo Pellistri, the Uruguay forward who spent the second half of last season at La Liga side Granada before heading to the Copa America – where he was part of his country’s run to the semi-finals.

With Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia still missing through injury, and youngster Harry Amass overlooked despite doing well on the club’s pre-season tour of the United States, Pellistri was the only option on the bench when Ten Hag decided to replace Harry Maguire after an hour and shift Lisandro Martinez to his normal central defensive role.

United can shrug off the damage caused at Wembley. But if it happens again when they open their Premier League campaign against Fulham at Old Trafford on Friday, the excuses will not be as easy to accept.

That is why the club are closing in on De Ligt and Mazraoui, who played for Morocco as a left-back at the World Cup even though he is more at home on the right.

“No, I can’t,” said Ten Hag, when asked if he could update on their arrivals and the expected departure of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who missed Saturday’s game amid a widespread understanding his move to West Ham is about to go through. “When we have some news, we will announce it. Until that point, we will work with the squad that is available.

“It’s clear we have problems and we have to work. The players have to work to be available and the staff have to work. Together it should be a good collaboration.”

Ten Hag said in the aftermath of last Saturday’s 3-0 friendly loss to Liverpool in South Carolina that United’s new hierarchy is “eager” to do business.

New chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox all watched proceedings unfold from the Royal Box.

However, it is clear the 90 minutes, plus penalties, was a brief break from what has been a busy summer.

“I am pleased with the new [boardroom] structure,” said Ten Hag. “We are working good together.”

Ex-Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane added on ITV: “They key for United is keeping the better players fit. The United squad is pretty strong, if they keep all their players fit – I would be pretty upbeat for the start of the season.

“I still think the manager would have wanted to see a bit more steel to see the game out. You would surely expect United to be challenging for the top four if players keep fit.”

Alejandro Garnacho was only on the pitch for 31 minutes but he made as big an impact as anyone in a United shirt.

He set up the opportunity which Marcus Rashford failed to take when he fired against the foot of a post with only City goalkeeper Ederson to beat.

The 20-year-old unsettled the City defence with his direct running and thought he had won the game with a low drive into the bottom corner from the edge of the area eight minutes from time, after some excellent approach work from skipper Bruno Fernandes.

It was a positive contribution, which he reinforced by scoring United’s third penalty in what ultimately proved to be a 7-6 shootout defeat.

“Alejandro did very well,” said Ten Hag. “He came in and the plan went as we thought it should go. It’s only disappointing we couldn’t bring it over the line.”

Ten Hag also spoke positively about Rashford. Yet there is a nagging sense he is still not yet back to the form that saw him score a career-high 30 United goals in the 2022-23 season.

Aside from the opportunity he missed – which he should have done better with – he did not pose the same threat from his preferred wide position that Garnacho did in much less time, and eventually moved back to the centre-forward slot which Ten Hag feels he is less effective in.

“He got into good positions several times in very good positions,” said the United boss.

“I’m very pleased he is getting in those positions, because I know with him, he will keep going and keep making those movements, the team will make those movements and he will score goals. Once he scores one, the goals will come.”

Keane said: “He is a really, really good player who can impact the game. When he plays, I expect something from him.

“On the other hand we have seen Marcus Rashford score great goals but he has got to become clinical.

“We just need to see Marcus back to his old self, with great energy, running off players, because we know he is good at that stuff.”

The last time Jadon Sancho took a penalty at Wembley, it was England’s Euro 2020 shootout defeat by Italy and he was subjected to racist abuse on social media.

He was brave enough to take United’s fourth penalty, at which point they held a 3-2 advantage as Silva had already had his shot saved by United keeper Andre Onana.

The 24-year-old went to Ederson’s left but the City keeper managed to get a hand to the ball, pushing it on to a post, where it bounced across goal and eventually out.

United skipper Bruno Fernandes made a point of walking to Sancho to offer sympathy and Ten Hag says he is confident the winger would step up again if required.

“He’s a very good penalty taker and I had no doubts to let him take one,” said Ten Hag. “In the future I am sure he will take penalties.”