5 Positives From Barcelona Win

Manchester United’s 3-1 win over Barcelona in the International Champions Cup was just as intriguing as it was entertaining. Here, we discuss five positives that stem from the match…

We've beaten the European champions… again! Overcoming the reigning Champions League holders has provided a welcome confidence boost ahead of the new season, but Louis van Gaal and the Reds are not getting carried away by such a positive result. Experience has taught them not to, having defeated Real Madrid during last summer’s tour before losing the opening match of the Barclays Premier League campaign. Could this experience prove beneficial this time around? “We're a bit cautious,” Luke Shaw told MUTV. “We'll take it game by game but the most important match for us is the first one of the season against Tottenham.”

Starting XI vs Tottenham? The boss admitted beforehand that the starting XI against Barca is likely to face Spurs at Old Trafford on 8 August, so it was fascinating to see who he picked. Daley Blind was perhaps the surprise inclusion at centre-back and the Dutchman is now favourite to retain that position, which is no bad thing considering his intelligent, commanding performance. David De Gea’s excellent return was another positive, as well as Memphis Depay’s growing relationship with Wayne Rooney.

Rooney kept his word… “I am ready to take that mantle on and be the one who gets the goals for us,” explained Wayne 24 hours ahead of kick-off at Levi’s Stadium – and he wasn’t lying! The Reds captain needed just eight minutes to open his account for the summer with a powerful header from Ashley Young’s in-swinging corner, underlining his predatory instincts ahead of an important season. The boss is planning to use him as a striker and he expects goals, so this was an encouraging start.

In youth we trust… Promoting young talent into the first team has always been important to United fans, who relish the tradition started by Sir Matt Busby and famously reinvigorated by Sir Alex Ferguson during his illustrious tenure at the club. Van Gaal gave seven senior debuts to Academy graduates during his first campaign at Old Trafford and, brilliantly, the manager fielded another seven former youth players (Johnstone, Blackett, McNair, Lingard, Pereira, Wilson, Januzaj) in the XI that finished Saturday's match in Santa Clara. Our history is in safe hands.

Welcome back, Chicha… It slipped under the radar a little, but Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez re-joined the United squad prior to the match at Levi’s Stadium. The Mexican spent last season on loan at Real Madrid, having slipped down the pecking order of strikers, but van Gaal is optimistic the striker will impress this summer and make a telling contribution in 2015/16. “He can prove himself again and now Falcao and van Persie are gone his chances are better now,” the boss said.