[ad_1]
Everything you need to know before Saturday’s game:
(one) Manchester United kicks off the 2020/21 Premier League season on Saturday, a week later than most of their domestic opponents. Due to United’s long run in the Europa League (which ended just over a month ago), their first weekend trip to Burnley was postponed until later in the season.
(two) Last weekend Manchester United lost 1-0 at Aston Villa in their only preseason match of the summer. Later, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer named new signing Donny van de Beek as the featured artist on his team:
He is a seeker of spaces and creates time for himself with his timing and movement. He was very happy with his performance.
(3) Of course, that was far from being a Manchester United first-choice team. Due to international duty, key players such as Bruno Fernandes, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelöf, Fred, Nemanja Matić, Anthony Martial, David de Gea and Mason Greenwood missed the trip to Villa Park and only returned to Carrington earlier this week. .
(4) Although rumors of Jadon Sancho continue, Manchester United will likely open the new season with Donny van de Beek as the only senior signing. But while fans were surely expecting a busier offseason in the transfer market, van de Beek could be just what the doctor ordered for United’s midfield. The 23-year-old Ajax star looked destined to move to Real Madrid earlier this year, but the Reds swooped in on a £ 35m deal once talks broke down.
(5) Ajax CEO, and Manchester United legend Edwin van der Sar in newest red:
He can play in different positions in the midfield. It can be a six, an eight, or a ten. He has a great eye for goal, his technique is brilliant and he can go from box to box. I guess you’ve talked to Ole and they’ve discussed different positions. [he will play]. He’s multi-functional and can play a little deeper, which I think is his preferred role.
(6) Paul Pogba, who only returned to training last week after a fight with COVID-19, looks doubtful for Saturday. He wasn’t ready for the friendly with Aston Villa and will probably need a little more time to improve his fitness before returning to action. If Pogba can’t go, expect Scott McTominay to be van de Beek’s partner in midfield.
(7) Another big question is the status of Mason Greenwood. After being sent home from the England national team due to coronavirus-related indiscretions, the 18-year-old could face a spell in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s doghouse. On the other hand, Harry Maguire seems to have gotten over his own offseason controversy with no lasting ill effects, so perhaps Greenwood will quickly forgive him as well.
(8) Against all odds, Wilfried Zaha remains at Crystal Palace. It seems like it’s been heading towards the Selhurst Park exit gate for years, but Palace keeps finding a way to hold on to it. Good too. Zaha scored the only goal in Crystal Palace’s 1-0 win over Southampton last weekend, providing one of the few sparks of life in Roy Hodgson’s team. Three points is three points, but Palace worked the entire match on just 29% possession and just 51% (!) From completions. Terrible things.
(9) With both Arsenal and Everton supposedly still hanging around Zaha, Hodgson made it clear that the former Red will only leave if Crystal Palace gets its price:
Let’s see what happens. For me, hopefully, nothing. I enjoy working with Wilf and I hope he knows that we cannot let him go until someone walks in and wants to buy him. The fact is that each transfer window In which I have been involved, Wilf has made noises that he would like to play for a club that plays in the Champions League. But, for something to happen, a club has to come and pay the market price. We hope you accept the situation as it is and continue to play your best football.
(10) Crystal Palace’s possession problems continued in Tuesday night’s defeat at Bournemouth in the League Cup. A mostly second-choice team collected just 37% possession and was outscored 17-4 by their Championship opponents. The match ended 0-0, but Bournemouth advanced after an 11-10 penalty shootout.
(eleven) Aside from keeping Zaha, much of Crystal Palace’s hopes for the new season lie with Eberechi Eze. Hodgson signed the England Under-21 attacking midfielder for £ 19.5 million in an attempt to take some of the scoring pressure off Jordan Ayew. The 22-year-old Eze scored 14 goals last season for Queens Park Rangers in the Championship and Palace could use any and all of them this season. Last year, they scored just 31 goals, ranking second in the worst position in the Premier League.
