Amad & Garnacho offer Man Utd promise in promotion of Community Shield showdown

FROM WEMBLEY – There is no doubt that Manchester United need players if they are going to compete in the new season.

On Saturday there was progress for two more arrivals from Bayern Munich – Noussair Mazraoui and their long-term target, Matthijs de Ligt. Both players will arrive in Manchester and complete the moves in the coming days after a long pursuit – and in De Ligt’s case years in the making, since new boss Erik ten Hag was his manager at Ajax. They are two absolutely necessary steps to progress.

A central midfielder is needed at least and with the constant injury problems at left back, more depth may be needed even if Mazraoui is capable.

On Saturday, these points were confirmed on the field. United met local rivals Manchester City at Wembley in the curtain-raiser of the season, the Community Shield, and while their performances were promising, their weaknesses were exposed at times and the blue side of the city ended up taking the spoils.

The absence of left-back Lisandro Martinez has been linked with mixed results and Jonny Evans, 37 in January, is still playing more football than ever. Perhaps the answers to those questions lie in the completed transfer.

The right side of the attack has been a sore spot for a long time. You could argue its weakness starts in the summer of 2009, when Glazernomics indeed it raised its head. The £80m sale of Cristiano Ronaldo was backfilled by the signing of Antonio Valencia from Wigan and while Valencia served the club well (from right back in his final years), the lack of outstanding talent in that position has been evident ever since.

United tried to correct their imbalance on the right in Ten Hag’s first summer. Brazilian player Antony, who confirmed this week that he will be heard in relation to goals and assists next season (think of this as an attempt to link his name to goals and assists, because he hasn’t had many yet) cost north of £80m and has been a spectacular disappointment so far.

But United may now find they have long-term answers to their right-back woes in the making for years.

Amad Diallo has been United’s brightest spark of pre-season. His success has been a long time coming and is a much-anticipated title for fans who have seen the light of his brilliance, but a string of injuries last season and a long road back – and time to adapt to what his manager wanted – mean what. we will see more.

He played well towards the end of last season, that an extra-time winner against Liverpool and a surprise win against Newcastle at Old Trafford, suggests he has the necessary ability to take chances in moments of pressure. And he cemented his position at the top of the batting order to start the season against Fulham on Friday in another dangerous game.

Amad’s ability to carry the ball in tight spaces, communication with other players, and general technical ability make him a joy to watch. The Ivory Coast international should have opened the scoring in the first half after a cleverly designed opener to meet Casemiro’s winner on goal – although his decision to go in on the standing Mason Mount instead of shooting was wrong.

Still only 22 years old, Amad provides excitement and a real threat when taking the ball into attacking areas. His unpredictability compared to Antony makes that selection less of a contest at this point.

But United have a familiar option on the right throughout last season barring, or otherwise, striker Alejandro Garnacho, fresh from the Copa America.

The Argentinian has the gears to go through and the power to fill them, but his most likable quality is perhaps something Amad lacks; dogged determination and bulldozing quality while driving. He’s not as disciplined as his teammates but it usually works in his favor – and it happened here.

His strong right foot means Garnacho’s ability to drive downfield provides a direct option at times when United are lacking on the right, but that confidence and quality with his weaker foot, he is not afraid to use. Garnacho’s carry up the pitch before taking a corner is a reminder that he too provides the uncertainty that United can only benefit from – a quality Antony needs to learn quickly.

United’s campaign gets off to a good start on Friday night at home to Fulham and, injuries and late signings allowed, there are signs of promise after last season’s poor league campaign.

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