Sports
Sanchez hits top form before incredible 26-penalty shoot-out in California
Manchester United registered the first of their US pre-season tour in the US after a penalty shoot-out win over AC Milan.
Jose Mourinho’s side drew with the Serie A side but eventually came out on top in a mammoth shoot-out which saw 26 penalties taken before United emerged triumphant.
Alexis Sanchez gave United the lead in the 12 minute, but that was cancelled out by Milan’s Suso three minutes later.
Sanchez was United’s stand-out performer and continued to look sharp on his second tour appearance, but was unable to inspire United to victory.
United were without striker Anthony Martial, who left the tour party to be with his partner, who is due to give birth to their son at any time.
Sanchez took Martial’s place up front for United and was full of energy and enterprise, marking him out as his side’s best player.
Here are five talking points from the game…
1. Sanchez fills the void
With Anthony Martial having left the US tour to be with his partner, who is about to give birth, and Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford on extended post-World Cup breaks, there was a void up front for United.
It was filled by Alexis Sanchez, who opened the scoring in the 12 minute with a composed finish after being put through by Juan Mata.
Sanchez was United’s stand-out player, causing Milan problems with his pace, movement and guile, and the Chilean looks hungry and fresh after a first full summer off for nine years.
2. United’s three-man defence caught out
Mourinho experimented with a back three, but the system fell apart for Milan’s equaliser in the 15 minute. Axel Tuanzebe lost Suso, while Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling proceeded to play the Milan striker onside.
So ponderous was United’s defending that Suso was even afforded the luxury of allowing the ball to bounce once before hitting it flush and sending an angled shot beyond the reach of Lee Grant.
Mourinho was rightly furious, gesturing as much to his coaching staff, his actions confirming His belief that his defence were guilty of switching off at a critical moment.
3. Darmian could earn reprieve
With United skipper and first-choice right-back Antonio Valcencia having flown home after suffering a torn calf muscle in the second game of the tour, Matteo Darmian – who was set to be offloaded this summer – fulfilled both roles against Milan.
Darmain may yet be sold abroad after the Premier League’s transfer deadline on August 9, but with Valencia and new right-back Diogo Dalot both sidelined through injury, the Italian is in line to start United’s opening game of the season at home to Leicester on August 10.
Darmian got into plenty of forward positions in his wing-back role here, but is likely to play in a traditional full-back role if he gets the nod, with Mourinho more than likely to start the season with a flat back-four.
4. Shaw struggles to impress Mourinho
Like Darmian, Luke Shaw is set to start the new season, as United’s first-choice left-back, with Ashley Young on an extended break following his World Cup heroics, Marcos Rojo also absent and with Daley Blind having returned to Ajax.
Shaw is entering a make-or-break season, the biggest of his turbulent four-year United career, with only one year left on his current contract.
Mourinho has kept faith in Shaw, despite publicly berating and shaming him during his two years in charge, in a bid to get the best out of the 23-year-old. Shaw lasted 74 minutes here, but did little of note, and lost the ball right under Mourinho’s nose, moments before he was hooked, and walked straight to the dressing-room with a member of United’s backroom team.
Shaw, who continually cut back inside on his forays down the left and who frequently lost possession, must do better than this if he is to totally convince Mourinho of his worth, and there is still much work to do be done before he can reach that stage.
5. Bonucci shows his enduring class
Mourinho wants to sign a centre-back before the transfer deadline in a fortnight’s time and has targeted Leicester and England World Cup star Harry Maguire.
But the United boss could do worse than make a bid for Milan skipper Leonardo Bonucci, who oozed class in the middle of defence for the Serie A side, and played an exquisite ball over the top to Suso for his side’s equaliser to cancel out Sanchez’s opener.
While United’s three-man defence struggled at times, Bonucci showed great awareness and anticipation of danger, and is the commanding centre-half figure Mourinho craves.
