McTominay eager for tough pre-season tests

Scott McTominay believes playing “top-quality sides” in pre-season can prove to be a real advantage as Manchester United prepare for a long Premier League campaign.

The Reds will take on three of the continent's best teams in the International Champions Cup (ICC) in July and August - Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan in Singapore on 20 July, Champions League finalists Tottenham Hotspur in Shanghai on 25 July and finally seven-time European champions AC Milan in Cardiff on 3 August.

United have also announced friendly fixtures against Perth Glory, Leeds United and Kristiansund, with all six pre-season games designed to boost the squad's fitness levels.

The Reds' 2019/20 Premier League campaign begins with a home game against Chelsea - Conte's most recent former club - and McTominay believes those three ICC fixtures in particular will be the ideal preparation for our Old Trafford clash with the Blues.

“You need to play the best teams to get a feel for how you’re getting on as a group and how everything is going with the different systems you play,” the 22-year-old told Inside United, the club’s official monthly magazine.

“But more importantly, when you play against the bigger teams, I think that really helps with your match fitness. So, it’s a positive for us that we’re playing some real top-quality sides.”

While McTominay is preparing for his third consecutive pre-season tour with the first team, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, is readying himself for his first as United boss.

“When it comes to pre-season, that’s the start of the proper season for the manager,” said Scott.

“It’ll be good to be together as a group and if a few signings come in we’ll be ready for that and welcome them with open arms.”

Having experienced a pre-season tour while still a reserve-team player in 2017, McTominay knows how important time away can be for the younger players hoping to transition into the senior squad.

“It will be good for the younger players who came on the tour last year and who will come again this year to get a feel for exactly what goes on - how the players prepare for games, exactly what they do, the meetings we have and things,” he said.

“It can be a vital time in their development. It just helps them get to know the lads and it allows them to see what you’re about on the pitch as well.

“That’s one of the most important things - they have to trust you on the pitch and have confidence in you. It’s an invaluable experience.”