United open their season against a Wolves team in turmoil before a ball has been kicked, with Julen Lopetegui leaving after his concerns about the lack of recruitment activity at Molineux were ignored, and ex-Bournemouth manager Gary O’Neil taking over on short notice.
For Erik ten Hag, this is his first glimpse at a team that has been overhauled in key areas during a relatively successful summer recruitment drive given the club’s unclear future ownership.
The absence of Rasmus Hojlund up front, as well as a number of market changes still to be done, prevents us from seeing the finished product, but Express Sport looks at the likely line-up to face Wolves.
Goalkeeper
Andre Onana, a £47.2m summer signing from Inter, has already demonstrated in pre-season that he intends to control and dictate both physically and verbally with greater power than David de Gea. And his ability to play with the ball at his feet could allow Ten Hag to return to the defensive approach he favored during his great seasons at Ajax.
Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, and Luke Shaw play defense
Aside from marking speedier threats down the left wing, Aaron Wan Bissaka appears to be behind Dalot in the pecking order, with the Portugal international giving more going forward.
Varane and Martinez kept more clean sheets for United than any other team last season and, barring injury, appear to be Ten Hag’s favourite partnership again. And Luke Shaw picks himself given Tyrell Malacia’s injury, which Ten Hag says will keep him out for the first half of the season.
Casemiro and Mount play defensive midfield
Mason Mount gives United fans their first glimpse of the talent that drew Ten Hag to pay £55 million for the midfielder. With more mobility and staying strength than Christian Eriksen, this duo has the potential to be productive, with both capable of line-breaking passes from the base of midfield.
Behind Rashford, forwards Antony, Fernandes, and Garnacho
The back ailment that has prevented Rasmus Hojlund from fully participating in training since his arrival from Atalanta does not concern Ten Hag, who feels this is a long-term project rather than a quick remedy.
In any case, he noted on Friday that he has a lot of alternatives, with Marcus Rashford set to start up front and Anthony Martial on the bench. Jadon Sancho has shown on tour that he can play in the No.10 role and might start ahead of Garnacho on the left.
And Antony has returned from injury and will remain on the right, with Ten Hag admiring his defensive effort. Fernandes, the new United captain, will begin in his usual midfield role.
