Manchester United opened their preseason with a 1-0 loss to Wrexham, and if you’re looking for reasons to panic, you can probably find them. But also, maybe don’t. Most of the first-choice squad is still recovering from summer World Cup duty, so what fans saw in San Diego was essentially a B-team mixed with kids and a couple new faces trying to get their legs under them.
Still, even with the asterisks, there were things worth paying attention to. Especially for a team entering Michael Carrick’s first full season in charge and still trying to piece together a coherent identity.
Joshua Zirkzee looked like a guy who knows he’s on his way out
It’s been rumored all summer that Zirkzee might not be part of United’s long-term plans, and this game did nothing to suggest otherwise. He was slow to react, heavy on the ball, and generally looked like someone playing his first minutes in months. Which he was. But it’s not the kind of first impression you want when you’re trying to convince a new manager to keep you around.
The case for keeping Zirkzee as a backup to Benjamin Sesko gets weaker every time he steps on the pitch and doesn’t show something. United have too many games this season to carry a striker who only works in specific cup situations. At this point, there’s a real argument that Chido Obi, the academy kid, would offer more as a second-choice option. That’s assuming Carrick can’t bring in another forward after sorting out the midfield rebuild, which is still the priority.
Andrey Santos already looks like the kind of midfielder Carrick used to be
The Brazilian made his unofficial debut in this game and did exactly what you want a holding midfielder to do. He broke up plays, stepped into passing lanes, and moved the ball forward quickly and decisively. It was the kind of performance that makes you think, oh, that’s what Carrick sees in him.
Mason Mount also got minutes and actually looked sharp, which has not been a given during his time at United. If he can finally stay healthy, there might still be a role for him. But that’s a big if at this point.
Left side of the pitch is still a problem, and maybe a bigger one than expected
Luke Shaw didn’t look like himself going forward. He’s never been a reckless attacker, but in this game he seemed unwilling to take his man on at all. That might be a product of his injury history — maybe he’s playing more conservatively to stay on the field — but it comes at a cost. Against teams that sit deep and pack the box, United needs their left back to offer something in the final third. Shaw’s passing is still useful, but it’s not enough by itself.
Patrick Dorgu got some run on the left wing, and it confirmed what a lot of people already suspected: he’s effective when United is sitting deep and countering into space, but not so much when they need someone to break down a parked bus. His athleticism is real. His creativity against a set defense is not, at least not from that position.
What this all points to is that United still needs a real left winger to back up Matheus Cunha. Whether that ends up being Marcus Rashford again or someone else entirely, the need is obvious.
Young guys looked promising, but not ready yet
Harry Amass, Shea Lacey, Toby Collyer, and Dan Gore all had moments. They looked like they belong in the building. But nobody hit that Adnan Januzaj-level where you just knew they were about to break through. It might be smarter to loan a couple of them out — Amass and Lacey especially — so they can actually play instead of sitting on the bench watching. Another year of regular football could be exactly what they need.
At the end of the day, it was a preseason friendly against a Wrexham side that was playing its second tune-up game. United’s mix of youth and rusty veterans wasn’t going to look sharp. Nobody got hurt, and that’s probably the biggest win of the night. Onto the next one.
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