What was supposed to be a happy occasion turned into a nightmare, as Kobbie Mainoo was substituted in the early stages due to an injury.
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Manchester United supporters were dealt with a big blow when the club’s promising young talent Kobbie Mainoo was withdrawn due to an injury in the opening stages of a pre-season friendly. The Red Devils faced arguably their biggest test of the summer when they played Real Madrid in a Houston friendly. Mainoo, who impressed in the pre-season so far, was given the opportunity to start in this high-octane fixture.
What was supposed to be a happy occasion turned into a nightmare, as Kobbie Mainoo was substituted in the early stages due to an injury. After the match, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag provided an update on his injury situation. “I understand the question. But you can never tell straight after a game. We have to wait for what it is,” he was quoted as saying by the club’s website during the press conference.
“So, hopefully, it’s not too bad and then chances will come. I wanted to see what levels he could play. Against Arsenal, we were pleased with his performance. I wanted to see if he could repeat that, some days after, from then, we would have conclusions. First, we have to wait for the diagnosis and, from there on, we will set conclusions.”
As far as the match is concerned, Real Madrid won 2-0, thanks to goals from Jude Bellingham and Joselu. Reacting to the result, ten Hag said, “We conceded an injury [to Kobbie Mainoo] and then we conceded, quickly, a goal. I think, after that, we found ourselves in the game. I think it was head to head, although there is definitely room for improvement. I think the pressing could be better. We have done that much better against Arsenal. We can be more compact. On the ball, we can be calm. Nevertheless, we created chances. But we didn’t score.”
Meanwhile, new signing Andre Onana made his debut against Real Madrid. Reflecting on his performance, ten Hag said, “When you play against Real Madrid, you will concede chances because it is a very good team with very good football players. But, overall, we did quite well and in the moment we conceded chances, he was there. I think everyone has seen, he has made a good debut.”
He added: “We have a lot of work to do between him and and the defending part. You could see the second goal where we are not closing the back post, it can’t be that and a goal will come there and that’s things that are the rules we have to follow. It will come quickly that we integrate that into our way of play.”
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