Squad Preparations for PSG Encounter
Manchester United are set to face Paris Saint-Germain in a pre-season friendly in Gothenburg. The match will take place at the Nya Ullevi Stadium. Youri Tielemans, a recent addition to Michael Carrick’s squad, is anticipated to make his initial appearance for United during this fixture. Tielemans joined the team last week after participating in Belgium’s World Cup campaign, which concluded in the quarter-finals.
While Tielemans was not part of the squad for the 2-1 pre-season friendly victory against Atletico Madrid in the Snapdragon Cup, he has been included in the 22-man squad travelling to Gothenburg. Influential captain Bruno Fernandes is also expected to feature in Sweden, having rejoined the squad following his own post-World Cup holiday. Other players like Diogo Dalot, Cunha, and Noussair Mazraoui are also set to be involved.
However, Cunha will not be available to play against PSG, nor will first-choice goalkeeper Lammens. Both players are remaining at Carrington to recover from minor illnesses and are expected to rejoin the squad during a training camp in the Republic of Ireland next week. This camp will be followed by a match against rivals Leeds at Croke Park in Dublin on August 12. The team will then conclude their summer campaign against AC Milan in Wroclaw, Poland, on August 15.
Player Availability and Upcoming Fixtures
Striker Benjamin Sesko remains absent for United due to a shin injury that has persisted since last season. Despite his absence from the 22-man squad for the PSG friendly, there is an expectation that he will be fit for the start of the new Premier League season. United have adopted a cautious approach with Sesko to avoid any setbacks during the pre-season period.
Other players who will not be participating in the PSG match include Matthijs de Ligt, who is recovering from a long-term back injury. Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford, and Lisandro Martinez are also still on holiday after the World Cup and are scheduled to join United in Ireland. Additionally, JJ Gabriel, who made his senior debut off the bench against Atletico, is not involved this weekend.
The Manchester United squad travelling to face PSG includes goalkeepers Tom Heaton, Dermot Mee, and Fred Heath. Defenders in the squad are Harry Amass, Dan Armer, Patrick Dorgu, Diogo Dalot, Ayden Heaven, Harry Maguire, Noussair Mazraoui, Luke Shaw, and Leny Yoro. The midfield features Bruno Fernandes, Jack Fletcher, Tyler Fletcher, Mason Mount, Andrey Santos, and Youri Tielemans. Forwards listed are Amad Diallo, Shea Lacey, Bryan Mbeumo, and Joshua Zirkzee.
United will commence their new Premier League season, which marks Carrick’s first as permanent manager, with an away fixture against Championship play-off winners Hull on August 22.
Pre-Season Friendlies Across Europe
Beyond the Manchester United versus Paris Saint-Germain fixture, several other club friendlies are scheduled for Saturday, August 8. These matches span various locations and involve numerous teams preparing for their upcoming seasons.
Some of the scheduled matches include KasımpaÅa versus Samsunspor, Elche versus Toulouse, and Albacete versus Real Murcia. Other fixtures feature Lens against Sunderland, Kortrijk versus Club Brugge II, and Real Unión playing Eibar. These games are part of a busy pre-season schedule for clubs across Europe.
Additional matches include Club Brugge versus Beerschot, Zelzate versus Genk II, and Freiburg playing Strasbourg. Werder Bremen will face Paderborn, while Eintracht Frankfurt will play Hull City. These friendlies provide an opportunity for teams to assess their squads and tactics before the competitive season begins.
The extensive list of pre-season games highlights the preparations underway for numerous clubs, including Hamburger SV versus Lille, Lokeren versus Umm Salal, and Augsburg versus Sassuolo. Bayer Leverkusen will also play Sevilla, and Köln will face Real Sociedad, all on August 8.
Source: bbc.com
