Manchester United capped their pre-season tour with a 2-1 win against Serie A side Sampdoria.
Goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Juan Mata gave the Red Devils victory in Dublin and attention will now switch to Tuesday’s Super Cup clash with Real Madrid in Macedonia.
The win completes what has been a satisfying pre-season for United, where the Red Devils have won five out of their seven matches and have lost just once.
Star man
Nemanja Matic.
He’s had just two training sessions with his new team-mates but you would never have known judging by the Serb’s performance.
The 29-year-old looked composed sitting in front of United’s back three and was barking out orders to his new team-mates.
He only managed 45 minutes in what is his first game of pre-season but it’s clear that Matic will bring leadership and balance to United’s midfield.
It was notable too that United’s level dropped once Matic departed at half-time.
Failed to impress
Daley Blind.
Mourinho’s switched between formations in pre-season and it’s unclear whether he’ll stick with four at the back going into the Premier League term.
Blind is perfectly suited to playing in a three but he failed to impress tonight with a dodgy performance.
The Dutchman was caught napping on a number of occasions in the first half and wasn’t his usual self in possesion.
With Victor Lindelof struggling to settle thus far at the club, the Swede needed more composed defenders alongside him than Blind and Smalling but the Dutchman in particular was guilty of spreading panic.
Biggest error
He’s normally reliable in possession but Daley Blind was far from composed during one incident in the first half.
The Dutchman was under very little pressure when he hit a hospital pass back to David De Gea in United’s goal.
It looked as if the former Ajax captain was certain to score an own goal but De Gea saved his blushes with a last-ditch save to prevent the ball from going in.
Sampdoria were awarded an indirect free-kick which they failed to convert. Blind’s blushes, at least, were saved.
Wild sequence of events in #ManUtd game. Daley Blind tries to beat De Gea. Sampdoria indirect free kick is countered to a Mkhitaryan goal pic.twitter.com/T3QrOWcN6y
— Dave (@DesTaquito) August 2, 2017
What surprised us?
Matteo Darmian did his chances of starting the season as United’s first choice left back no harm with an encouraging display.
The versatile Italian was mainly used as a back-up last term but became a starter towards the end of the season when United’s squad was stretched due to injuries.
The 27-year-old created Mkhitaryan’s opener when he floated a perfectly weighted ball onto the Armenian’s head midway through the first half.
Darmian is often criticised for his lack of adventure going forward but he showed plenty of verve in a left wing-back role against the Italians and he is surely first choice with Luke Shaw still injured.
What didn’t surprise us?
Like in so many league matches last season, United failed to put the game to bed at 1-0.
The Reds controlled large portions of the friendly and could have been three up at half-time had Mkhitaryan and Lukaku been more ruthless but they were left paying the price for their finishing when Dennis Praet scored on the hour mark.
United scored just 54 goals last term and will need to up that tally significantly if they’re to mount a title challenge.
On another day, United could have walked away with a share of the spoils or even lost a match in which they dominated.
MORE : Liverpool lose drab Audi Cup final on penalties after poor display against Atletico Madrid
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