A selection debate and new pecking order – what Manchester United learnt from their pre-season tour

Man United’s first team played three games on their pre-season tour and here are five talking points from the United States.

Fewer wins but better games

The fact that United have lost two games and won a friendly doesn’t matter. United picked up three wins and draws on last year’s tour of Thailand and Australia and their start to the season was the toughest in a generation.

United had the same number of wins on their last US tour in 2018, but the mood was tense and the leaderless communications department failed to stop Jose Mourinho. Erik ten Hag left Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and waved to reporters in the mixed zone. The intensity and quality of the games was better than last year and Ten Hag’s criticism of United’s performance against Borussia Dortmund is timely with the first game of the season less than two weeks away.

Onana is no shrinking violet

Onan, what’s his name? He was drafted into the Allegiant Stadium team roster as “Andrew Onana”. Nothing was different about Onana’s performance; made his first cross pass and beat Sebastian Haller confidently.

Harry Maguire was reprimanded for playing a wrong pass to hospital and Onana later said: “I’m asking a lot.” The Cameroonian is the same age as Peter Schmeichel when he joined United and has more experience.The first signs are promising.

Mainoo becoming one of the main men

Too bad Kobbie Mainoo’s tour consisted of an enterprising half against Arsenal. Although his forced retirement against Real Madrid was premature, it was significant that Mainoo was placed in the same eleven as Casemiro and Mason Mount.

This year, Mainoo surpassed Zidane Iqbal (deceased), Fred (deceased) and Scott McTominay. McTominay might have left if Mainoo hadn’t left Houston on crutches, but the Scot could stay for now.

Mainoo, 18, was the most accomplished talent in the squad that won the FA Youth Cup in 2022 and has a chance to become Ten Hag’s second academy heir after Alejandro Garnacho.

Mount yet to impress

There was plenty of logic behind United’s move for Mount: 24 years old, Premier League-proven, England international, into the last year of his contract, developed in the Netherlands and a regular finalist at club level.

Mount is still quite the downgrade on Frenkie de Jong, whom United agreed a fee for last year, and he has underwhelmed across his five appearances. Jude Bellingham, virtuoso against United in Real Madrid’s 2-0 win last week, is at a level that may be beyond Mount.

Had United managed to convince Bellingham back in 2020, Mount might not be at the club. Mount needs to hit the ground running against Wolves.

Right-back debate reignited

After a progressive seven months, this was a regressive tour for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who was proactive against Arsenal but struggled against Madrid before his error led to Dortmund’s winner.

Diogo Dalot whipped in United’s goal of the tour to put them ahead against the German side and he agreed a new contract earlier this year. Yet Wan-Bissaka still appears to be the starting right-back.

Both are likely to get starts in next week’s back-to-back friendlies against Lens and Athletic Bilbao. Then Ten Hag has a week to mull over which one starts against Wolves.

Beyond right-back, practically every other starting position is nailed down. Rasmus Hojlund may be eased in but United have not invested £72million for him to sit on the bench.