Manchester United fans will get a chance to see Mourinho United team for the first time next week as the Red Devils travel to Wigan for the first time in three-and-a-half years. The 20-time English champion will begin their pre-season preparations with a visit to the DW Stadium before embarking on a short tour of China and a trip to Sweden. They will take on Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City in China before taking on Galatasaray in Gothenburg on 30 July. They would then return to Old Trafford for a game against Everton in Wayne Rooney’s testimonial before taking on Premier League champion Leicester City in the Community Shield at Wembley six days before the season gets under way.
With close a dozen players still to return after their summer holiday, one expects that Mourinho will go with a youthfull looking team filled with academy graduates. However at the same time there are players who will be itching to prove their capabilities in front of new boss Jose Mourinho. This will give the Portuguese a chance to assess his fringe players and how useful they will be next season.
Goalkeeper: Sam Johnstone
He has been on the fringes of this United and arguably deserved a chance over Romero on the opening day of last season as Van Gaal overlooked David de Gea. He is out of contract next summer so it’s essential he does well in whatever little opportunities he gets.
Defense: Luke Shaw, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Axel Tuanzebe and Tyrell Warren
United fans will be eager to see Luke Shaw back on the field, Ten months and a day after Hector Moreno’s brutal tackle, the 20-year-old has a perfect chance to showcase his abilities before the season kicks off properly. Mourinho recently spoke highly about Tuanzebe and Warren. Tuanzebe was the first of United’s academy rookies to be promoted to the first-team squad at Crystal Palace last season. He will be partnered by Warren, whose performances in the under 18 prompted United to promote him to the reserve team. Fosu-Mensah flourished at right-back last season and could make the position his own. Valencia and Matteo Darmian are on holiday after their international duty and the Dutch 18-year-old should expect to start in the United back four come July 16th.
Midfielders: Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Lingard, Memphis Depay, Ander Herrera and Michael Carrick
Herrera and Carrick are the only two seniors central defenders in the team currently and have a chance to establish themselves in the starting XI before Mourinho goes out and buys a new central midfielder. All eyes will be on Mkhitaryan and how he does in his first match since moving from Borussia Dortmund. Lingard might occupy the number 10 role, which means Mata will have to wait for his chance under the manager who felt he was surplus to requirements at Chelsea. With Martial on a break after the Euros, Depay will be deployed on the left wing.
Striker: Ashley Fletcher
The 20-year-old had a good loan spell at Bristol City last season which culminated in winning the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and although he’s is expected to join West Ham, it would do Mourinho no harm in giving him an opportunity.