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Manchester United's pre-season has gone fully according to plan so far. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has used his squad extensively, and apart from Romelu Lukaku, Lee Grant and Matteo Darmian, every player has had a chance to impress the boss.
The Norwegian will have his first team in mind already, as a host of his players have been doing a good job.
The Red Devils won all their pre-season games, scoring 9 goals and conceding just 1. United blew away Perth Glory 2-0 and then saw off Leeds United 4-0 without even hitting top gear. However, they faced a different proposition in Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur in the next two games.
Even though Solskjaer made wholesome changes to the team the Red Devils still came away deserved winners, defeating Inter 1-0 and then battling it out with Spurs to snatch a 2-1 victory.
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There are still two more games to go, against Kristiansund and AC Milan, which should provide further preparations for the upcoming season.
United's transfer business has also been quiet of late, with the club failing to add to their squad since they secured Aaron Wan-Bissaka's signature almost three weeks ago. The first team for the next season is starting to take shape, and United should build on the back of a stellar summer preparation to stamp their authority on the league in the 2019-20 season.
Here are five talking points from their pre-season tour so far.
#5 The young guns have been impressive
Solskjaer continued his youth-centred rebuilding of Manchester United when he selected six youngsters in his pre-season squad. Joel Pereira, Axel Tuanzebe, James Garner, Tahith Chong, Angel Gomes and Mason Greenwood are among the brightest youth prospects at the club. And Solskjaer ensured every youngster picked up valuable minutes on the tour.
Pereira kept clean sheets in both games in Perth, while Garner scored a fine goal against Perth Glory. Tuanzebe and Chong featured in all games but one, and were impressive as well. Gomes scored a fantastic winner against Spurs and displayed maturity beyond his age.
But the find of the tour has to be Greenwood.
The youngster is a natural finisher and is blessed with tremendous speed and abilities on the ball. Greenwood is a genuine contender for that right wing role now, and he also thrived through the middle. He scored two goals, with Solskjaer admitting that he could play an important part in the upcoming season.
The pre-season has clearly indicated that the United academy is on the right path, and that is one of the big positives as the club continues its rebuilding under Solskjaer.
#4 Paul Pogba deserves credit for his attitude and pre-season form
Much was said about Paul Pogba before the start of the pre-season tour. A simple comment made in Japan had turned the Frenchman into the villain at Old Trafford.
Pogba had revealed that he wanted to leave Manchester United for a new challenge and Mino Raiola, his agent, left no stones unturned to get the message through.
Many expected Pogba to sulk through the pre-season tour; he had, after all, not turned up for pre-season training at Carrington. However, like a disciplined pupil, the Frenchman boarded the flight to Australia and decided to let his football do the talking.
It is easy to see why the Norwegian is adamant he wants to build a team around Pogba. The midfielder showed in pre-season he is a cut above the rest of the team. His passing and vision were already lauded last season, but he seems to have hit an even higher gear on the field in pre-season.
Pogba dominated possession, brought his teammates into play and showed outrageous skills and techniques with the ball at his feet. He started in a new deeper role, and was the heartbeat of the team - even showing sparks of his leadership qualities.
If there were fears that he might not give his all on the pitch at the start of the tour, those were brushed aside in the very first game. There was no lack of effort from the Frenchman; instead, his attitude was pitch perfect.
This is the Pogba that United fans and Solskjaer will want to see in the midfield in the upcoming season. His performance in pre-season might just be the trailer before the blockbuster ahead.
#3 New signings have adjusted well to life at the club
Manchester United bought Daniel James from Swansea and Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Crystal Palace as Solskjaer targeted young British players as the base of his rebuilding. Both players traveled with the pre-season squad and impressed with their performances in the United shirt.
Daniel James was expected to be an understudy this season and pick up after gaining some Premier League experience. However, the youngster has already shown qualities that indicate he will adjust to life in the league quite well.
James's speed is an asset and his work ethic is praiseworthy. It's just his crosses and finishing that need a little sharpening; if he takes care of those things, James might knock at the first team door already.
He was particularly impressive against Spurs, where he showed that he was ready for the physicality of the Premier League.
Wan-Bissaka, on the other hand, needs no introduction to the league. There was a reason United paid the big bucks for him, and that was reinforced through his performance in pre-season.
Wan-Bissaka went from strength to strength, building an exciting partnership with Pogba and impressing both in attack and defense. He already looks worth the £50m United paid for him, and has also adjusted very well to Solskjaer's tactics.
The pre-season was a chance for Solskjaer to induct his new signings into his squad. And the Norwegian can be extremely pleased with the way things have worked out.
#2 United still need a world-class central defender
Even before the end of last season, it was clear that Manchester United needed defensive reinforcements. The Red Devils had been extremely poor at the back, and barring Victor Lindelof, none of the central defenders in the team had managed to impress. As such, a defender became a priority in the summer.
However, the going has not been easy for Solskjaer and Co.
United have failed to secure the services of any of their centreback targets this summer. Kalidou Koulibaly was deemed too costly, while the Red Devils failed to convince Matthijs de Ligt to make the move to Old Trafford.
Solskjaer has now turned his attention to Leicester City's Harry Maguire, but the Foxes reportedly want a world record bid for a defender - nearing £80m. United are still contemplating whether to pay such an exorbitant amount, but the signs from the pre-season have not been great.
Solskjaer has installed a fast, fluid, attacking style of play which requires ball-playing defenders at the back, and that has exposed United's defensive frailties. Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Marcus Rojo have been poor, while Eric Bailly is injured again.
Axel Tuanzebe has looked strong and secure, but depending on the youngster to assume first team duties for an entire season is too heavy a risk.
The summer has already highlighted that the Red Devils need to sign a world-class defender at the earliest. They might have conceded just one goal in pre-season, but Solskjaer has already requested Ed Woodward to get the Harry Maguire deal completed on a war footing.
It is a move that could make or break United's season.
#1 The team looks fitter and hungrier
What a difference a few months can make. When Solskjaer took over the Manchester United caretaker job in December, he was essentially handed over the reins of Jose Mourinho's team. And while United were magnificent under his stewardship in the initial months, pretty soon it became clear that their heavy pressing, attacking football had taken its toll.
The United squad was not prepared enough to adjust to this sudden change in tactics in the middle of the season, and Solskjaer couldn't wait for the season to end.
2018-19 did finish in disappointment, but optimists could see that there were endless possibilities if the Norwegian was afforded time. A stellar transfer window was essential, but what Solskjaer wanted more was a change in attitude and an improvement in the conditioning of his players.
Pre-season training has been rigorous and the players have been pushed to the limits. And if the four games are an indication, the changes are already blooming.
United look leaner, meaner and hungrier on the pitch. There is a desire to get the ball in every player, and the pressing has been a constant feature. With the ball in possession, the Red Devils have been fast and furious too, and the squad seems to finally be making the transition to a Solskjaer team.
Whether they can continue this form until the last day of the upcoming season is another story. But United fans have every right to be optimistic.
