How the United Academy is bossing Tour 2019
All seven of Manchester United’s goals during Tour 2019 so far have been scored or assisted by graduates from the Academy, showcasing the strength of the club’s proud youth system.
That statistic was maintained on Saturday night in Singapore when Mason Greenwood stepped off the bench to secure a 1-0 win over Internazionale, with an excellent left-footed finish.
The 17-year-old performed admirably against the Italian giants and his increasing contribution is representative of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s enthusiasm to field young, attack-minded players. Here, we look back on how the Academy has been involved in every Tour 2019 goal so far…
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Goal: Marcus Rashford
Assist: Paul Pogba
Our account for the summer was opened in style, with Pogba backheeling a short pass for Rashford to spin inside the box and execute a composed left-footed finish into the far corner of the net. Ole said afterwards that it was exactly the type of goal that Marcus needs to score more of this term.
Goal: James Garner
The midfielder stepped off the bench and scored in an instant, pouncing on a poor pass from the goalkeeper to unleash a 25-yard strike that sailed into the bottom-right corner. It was his first goal in senior football and Academy mates claimed he was talking about it for days… and rightly so!
Goal: Mason Greenwood
Assist: Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Our first game against the old rivals from Yorkshire started with a bang, as Pogba found the advancing Wan-Bissaka with a lovely through-ball. The new signing from Crystal Palace then crossed into the area, for teenager Greenwood to score his first senior goal from close range.
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Goal: Marcus Rashford
Assist: Scott McTominay
The counter-attack has been a huge part of our attacking style this summer and this goal was a perfect example, with McTominay driving up the pitch before playing a short pass to his deadly team-mate Rashford, who ruthlessly dribbled past his marker to shoot under the goalkeeper.
Goal: Phil Jones
Assist: Andreas Pereira
After winning a corner with a shot that was palmed away by the goalkeeper, Brazilian Academy graduate Andreas took the set-piece himself and found Jones with an inch-perfect delivery into the box, prompting Solskjaer to stand and applaud from his technical area at Optus Stadium in Perth.
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Goal: Anthony Martial
Assist: Tahith Chong
Our young Dutch forward, Chong, has been a star of the youth system for several seasons now and he is starting to impress with the seniors. He was excellent in the second half against Leeds and his mazy dribbling helped him to win the penalty from which Martial scored late on.
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Goal: Mason Greenwood
Ashley Young’s inswinging free-kick was saved by the goalkeeper, but the danger had not been cleared: the ball fell to the feet of homegrown hero Greenwood, who cut inside from his right foot to left and unleashed a powerful shot that flew in at the far post, much to the crowd’s delight.
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