Manchester United Faces PSG with Tielemans Set for Debut
Manchester United will unveil one of their headline summer signings against the toughest of pre-season opponents – but Michael Carrick will have to do without two key figures when his side face Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg.
Youri Tielemans is in line for his first appearance in red on Saturday at the Nya Ullevi Stadium, with Bruno Fernandes also back in the fold. Senne Lammens and Matheus Cunha, though, will both stay behind.
Tielemans steps in, big guns return
Tielemans only linked up with United last week, his post-World Cup holiday following Belgium’s run to the quarter-finals in North America cutting into the early stages of pre-season. Now the wait to see him in a United shirt is almost over.
Signed from Aston Villa last month for around £35million, the former Leicester, Monaco and Anderlecht midfielder has committed to a five-year deal that runs until 2031. He watched from afar as United edged Atletico Madrid 2-1 in the Snapdragon Cup at Stockholm’s Strawberry Arena, but this time he is on the plane.
Carrick has named Tielemans in a 22-man travelling squad for the glamour meeting with back-to-back European champions PSG, and the 29-year-old is expected to make his maiden appearance.
He will not be the only heavyweight returning.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is set to feature after rejoining the squad this week, fresh from his own post-World Cup break. Portugal team-mate Diogo Dalot is also back, as are Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha and Morocco defender Noussair Mazraoui.
Just as United’s squad list started to look close to full strength, the setbacks arrived.
Cunha and Lammens ruled out
Despite resuming work with the group, Cunha will not be involved in Sweden. First-choice goalkeeper Lammens is also out of the PSG clash, having returned to training on the same day as his Belgium colleague Tielemans.
United have confirmed that both players will remain at Carrington to “fully recover from non-related minor illnesses”, with the expectation that they re-join Carrick’s group during next week’s training camp in the Republic of Ireland.
That camp leads straight into a meeting with old rivals Leeds at Croke Park in Dublin on August 12, before United round off their pre-season schedule against AC Milan in Wroclaw, Poland, on August 15.
Then comes the real thing. Carrick’s first Premier League campaign as permanent manager begins away to Championship play-off winners Hull on August 22, the formal start of a new era after his successful interim spell last season.
Goalkeeping reshuffle and injury list
The absence of Lammens, combined with a reshaped goalkeeping department, leaves United light on experience behind veteran Tom Heaton.
Striker Benjamin Sesko remains sidelined by a shin injury that has carried over from last season. New goalkeeper signing Karl Darlow is also unavailable, while Altay Bayindir and Radek Vitek have departed for Celta Vigo and Middlesbrough respectively.
The upshot is a promotion in responsibility for the youngsters. Dermot Mee and teenager Fred Heath will back up Heaton against PSG, a steep learning curve in front of a big crowd and an elite opponent.
At the back, Matthijs de Ligt is still not ready to return from a long-term back problem. Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford and Lisandro Martinez are all yet to report back following their World Cup exertions and will link up with the squad in Ireland instead.
Youngsters shuffled, Zirkzee stays in the shop window
One of the stories of last weekend’s win over Atletico was the senior debut of 15-year-old JJ Gabriel, thrown into the action off the bench before a Bryan Mbeumo brace turned the game in United’s favour. Gabriel will not be involved this time.
Fellow youngsters Jim Thwaites, Jaydan Kamason and Ethan Williams also drop out of the travelling party. Heath steps in for the departed Bayindir, while Harry Amass, Dan Armer, Jack Fletcher, Tyler Fletcher and Shea Lacey all retain their places.
Joshua Zirkzee is also included again, despite being heavily linked with a summer exit. A high-profile pre-season date with PSG offers exactly the kind of stage on which a transfer narrative can accelerate.
Squad to face the champions
Carrick’s 22-man group for Gothenburg underlines the blend of established names, expensive additions and academy prospects that will define United’s coming weeks.
- Goalkeepers: Tom Heaton, Dermot Mee, Fred Heath
- Defenders: Harry Amass, Dan Armer, Patrick Dorgu, Diogo Dalot, Ayden Heaven, Harry Maguire, Noussair Mazraoui, Luke Shaw, Leny Yoro
- Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes, Jack Fletcher, Tyler Fletcher, Mason Mount, Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans
- Forwards: Amad Diallo, Shea Lacey, Bryan Mbeumo, Joshua Zirkzee
A debut for Tielemans, the return of Fernandes, a patched-up spine and a cluster of teenagers facing the European champions: for Carrick, this is no gentle warm-up. It is an early test of how quickly his new-look United can grow into the season that is racing towards them.
