Manchester United saw their season get underway with a penalty shootout defeat to rivals Manchester City in yesterday’s Community Shield Final.
Two late goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Bernardo Silva meant that the Manchester derby tie had to be decided through spot-kicks, with City netting seven to United’s six.
Ultimately, Erik ten Hag won’t be losing any sleep over the result. While a win would’ve been a positive way to kick off the campaign, the match is often viewed as a friendly by English fans, with a win providing little but bragging rights.
Read more: Romano – ‘Keep an eye’ on 52-cap United ace’s situation, he could be sold before deadline day
As well as that, you could argue that United were actually the better team throughout the clash, but again lacked in the most crucial area: finishing.
Marcus Rashford, in particular, was left dumbfounded by a clear-cut chance he missed. He was played through on goal after an exquisite passage of build-up play between Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo and proceeded to open up his body to dispatch a low, curled strike – before watching it go wide of the post.
United coaches keen to rally behind Rashford after a difficult campaign
In the closing stages of regular time, he again looked visibly frustrated when striking the post from close range, after which newly-appointed coach Ruud van Nistelrooy, who would’ve undoubtedly buried the same chances, was quick to rally behind the No.10 on the sidelines rather than berate him.
Samuel Luckhurst revealed that the former Red ‘came out to clap Rashford encouragingly for several seconds’ in the technical area, evidently keen to affirm his faith in the forward instead of getting on his case.
