As the Premier League swings back into action, Man United fans will be particularly interested to see whether Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba will become Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first-choice midfield partnership - and if Marcus Rashford can rediscover his best form.
The team played two behind closed doors friendlies against West Bromwich Albion yesterday at Old Trafford. Man United's official website confirmed that two 90 minute matches took place.
A quick recap of yesterday's action at Old Trafford ⏱ #MUFC pic.twitter.com/nzKyNCLMD4
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) June 13, 2020
In the first game, the Championship club won by two goals to one - while the second ended with the home side winning 3-1.
This was the first action seen by Rashford, who looked sharp in a brief highlights packed posted by the club.
Bruno and Pogba
It is reported that Pogba and Fernandes were paired together during the first game.
Since arriving at Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon in a deal worth an initial €55m, plus up to €25m in add-ons - Bruno Fernandes has made an instant impact and become a fan favourite.
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes reacts after being awarded a penalty following a foul by Watford's goalkeeper Ben Foster during the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester.Speaking to OTB AM, or own Stephen Doyle argued that having commentated on a run of three Fernandes-inspired Man United performances before the league was suspended, he believes Pogba's best position could be on the bench.
He thinks that the hit-and-miss French World Cup winner could disrupt the new keyman's flow, as they have fulfiled similar roles in Ole's systems.
In follow up an article, he said that the manager should follow the lead of Alex Ferguson who decided that Paul Ince had become surplus to requirement at the club in the mid-90s and cut him adrift.
Manchester United's Paul Pogba looks dejected after the Premier League match at Molineux, Wolverhampton.Five-time Man United Premier League winner Darren Fletcher told MUTV that while he thinks the duo can play together - it will involve each of them making sacrifices:
"Great players can come together.... Somebody might have to sacrifice a little bit of something - that's part of being in a team, it's not an individual sport. When you play with a certain midfield, whether it's a midfield three, you adapt your game to complement each other.
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with Paul Pogba (right) after the final whistle during the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester."That's what I had to do at United. I was in the team with lots of different midfielders, lots of combinations... It's all about being compatible and recognising the strengths of your fellow team-mates and how to get your best performance, but, ultimately, you might be sacrificing what you do best to allow someone else to excel, which helps the team win."
Meanwhile, former-Red Devil Gary Neville offered a more blunt assessment.
I don’t understand the sentiment of “ How do Pogba and Fernandes “ fit together . They won’t be in a 2 sitting! With more fluid systems today than 20 years ago it should be simple. We’ve just watched De Bruyne and David Silva play together for 3 years in a MDF 3.
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) June 13, 2020
He said that he can't "understand," why people are questioning starting the two players for Man United.
He added that it should be "simple" to play them in a modern fluid centre partnership, comparing them to Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva in Pep's Manchester City side.
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