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CONFIRMED: WHO UNITED FACE FIRST IN THE CARABAO CUP

Manchester United's Carabao Cup campaign for 2020/21 will begin away to Luton Town, in a third-round tie to be played next week.

While the exact date and kick-off time are still to be confirmed, the Reds now know the opposition and the venue after the Hatters beat Reading 1-0 away at Madejski Stadium this evening. The two Championship clubs knew they would contest the right to host United when the draw for the second and third round was made on 6 September.

Luton Town were also at home in the first round, winning 3-1 against Norwich City - one of the sides relegated from the Premier League last season. All four goals in that game were scored in the final 11 minutes plus injury time.

Next week's Carabao Cup tie, which falls between our league games against Crystal Palace at home and Brighton away, will be our first encounter with Luton since April 1992. The Reds, who had hammered the Hatters 5-0 at Old Trafford earlier in the campaign, were held 1-1 at Kenilworth Road and it proved to be a costly result in our race with Leeds United to win the final Division One title race.

Luton are managed by Nathan Jones, who is in his second spell with the Bedfordshire club after a short-lived switch to Stoke City, and have a United Academy graduate in their ranks. Ryan Tunnicliffe played in the same FA Youth Cup-winning side as Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard in 2011 and won the club's Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award at the end of that season.

After making two first-team appearances for the Reds, both in the League Cup, Tunnicliffe joined Fulham in the January 2014 transfer window. The Hatters signed the midfielder from Millwall in the summer of 2019.

The other Carabao Cup third-round ties confirmed so far include an all-Premier League affair between Leicester City and Arsenal.

EXCLUSIVE: MAJOR BOOST TO UNITED'S SQUAD IN TRAINING

Bruno Fernandes feels confident the Manchester United squad is fit, refreshed and ready to achieve success in the 2020/21 season - starting against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Saturday.

The influential midfielder was one of several players who missed last weekend’s friendly against Aston Villa after participating in UEFA Nations League fixtures, in his case with Portugal. Our no.18 also wished to stay beside his wife following the birth of their second child late last week, which he later announced on Instagram.

Fernandes is now back at the Aon Training Complex and is pictured working hard with his team-mates in our gallery of exclusive images, captured during an intense and upbeat session earlier today.

As you can see, Bruno was joined in training by our summer signing from Ajax, Donny van de Beek, who could make his official debut wearing the no.34 against the Eagles this weekend.

David De Gea, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof, Fred, Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial are also pictured in our gallery, which is a huge positive after that group of Reds all missed our only pre-season friendly of the summer at Villa Park.

We caught up with Bruno for an interview that will appear in Saturday’s edition of United Review, the matchday programme at Old Trafford, and he is typically positive about the squad’s readiness.

“We don't have the normal pre-season,” he admits. “Most of us just trained this week with the team, but it is good because some of us have been in the national teams playing for our countries.

“We have just had 15 days of vacation but it was enough to enjoy time with the family, to relax a little bit and to come focused and fresh for the new season. Of course, we want vacations and everything, but we like and we love to play football, so we want to start sooner.

“For us, if you can play today already we would play. It is not about the days we had off or not. I think the most important thing now is to focus on our ambitions and the goal we want to achieve. I think everyone is focused now on that point.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is expected to provide an update on the squad and which players are available during his pre-match press conference on Friday.

An exact time for that media briefing is still to be confirmed and we will keep you updated as the week progresses.

UNITED V CRYSTAL PALACE: THE BIG MATCH PREVIEW

Manchester United’s Premier League season starts on Saturday afternoon with an Old Trafford match against Crystal Palace, beginning what promises to be an action-packed 2020/21 campaign.

Here’s everything you need to know about this weekend’s big game…

ESSENTIAL INFO
Kick-off at the Theatre of Dreams is scheduled for 17:30 BST and fans in the UK can watch the match live on Sky Sports. Supporters can also follow our rolling updates on ManUtd.com and within our Official App, while MUTV will provide live build-up, radio commentary and reaction from 16:25 BST.

In case you were wondering, our first league game of 2020/21 was delayed by a week due to the club's involvement in last season's Europa League semi-finals.

SETTING THE SCENE
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Reds are back in competitive action - get in! - following a short summer break and the squad is determined to build on last season’s third-placed finish in the league. The addition of new signing Donny van de Beek from Ajax will aid that mission and he is in the frame to make his competitive debut.

Palace finished 14th last term and Roy Hodgson’s team made a bright start to the new campaign, by beating Southampton 1-0 at Selhurst Park on Saturday. The Eagles are in action again on Tuesday night, with an EFL Cup tie against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

EARLY TEAM NEWS
It is difficult to gauge which United players will be available until the manager holds his pre-match press conference on Friday, at a time to be confirmed, but we know Axel Tuanzebe is currently injured.

Seven members of the regular starting XI towards the end of last season - David De Gea, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes, Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial – missed the pre-season friendly against Aston Villa at the weekend, but that does not mean they are ruled out. Our team at Villa Park was: Henderson (Grant 75), Dalot (Williams 70), Fosu-Mensah, Maguire, Shaw, McTominay (Galbraith 45), van de Beek, Lingard, Rashford (Elanga 75), James and Ighalo (Mengi 61).

Meanwhile, Palace reportedly have seven injured players in Patrick van Aanholt, Mamadou Sakho, James Tomkins, Connor Wickham, Gary Cahill, Christian Benteke and Nathan Ferguson. The Eagles' squad against Southampton last weekend was as follows: Guaita, Ward, Kouyate, Dann, Mitchell, Townsend, McArthur, McCarthy (Milivojevic 74), Schlupp (Eze 81), Zaha, Ayew.

BIG TALKING POINT
The first game of the season is always an exciting occasion, often because it presents an opportunity to watch a new signing in action, which is definitely the case this weekend with millions of fans eager to see Donny van de Beek in red. The Dutchman has been described as one of European football’s brightest young players and could feature in central midfield. “I will give everything to the club and I hope we can take titles and a lot of prizes,” he said earlier this month.

Solskjaer is also excited about his new signing, telling us last week: “When we signed Bruno Fernandes, we knew we needed that kind of player, now we've signed Donny and he's a type of player I felt we needed in the squad. He's the type of person that will fit the culture, fit the team and will improve us next season and for years to come.”

THEIR DANGER MAN
Former United winger Wilfried Zaha scored a 50th league goal of his career when slotting home the winner against Southampton and, interestingly, he has now been directly involved in 60 Premier League goals for Palace (37 goals, 23 assists) - which is 28 more than any other player for the club.

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, fans are still not permitted to attend matches and all Premier League fixtures are being played without supporters inside stadiums.

MATCH-OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS
Referee: Martin Atkinson.
Assistants: Lee Betts, Peter Kirkup.
Fourth official: Robert Jones.
VAR: Jonathan Moss.
Assistant VAR: Marc Perry.

RIVALS WATCH

Saturday 19 September
Everton v West Brom (12:30 BST)
Leeds United v Fulham (15:00 BST)
United v Crystal Palace (17:30 BST)
Arsenal v West Ham (20:00 BST)

Sunday 20 September
Southampton v Tottenham (12:00 BST)
Newcastle v Brighton (14:00 BST)
Chelsea v Liverpool (16:30 BST)
Leicester City v Burnley (19:00 BST)

Monday 21 September
Aston Villa v Sheffield United (18:00 BST)
Wolves v Manchester City (20:15 BST)

OLE TO KEEP TABS ON HIS 'EXCITING' UNITED PROSPECTS

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be watching the club's Academy players with interest as the 2020/21 season unfolds.

The Reds' youngsters kicked off the campaign with an impressive 6-0 win at Salford City in the EFL Trophy last week before a side featuring five changes faced the opening Premier League 2 fixture against Leicester City on Monday evening. There was a valuable lesson learned against strong, more experienced opponents as the Foxes scored twice in the second half to win 2-0.

Unfortunately, the Under-18s' opener with Liverpool was postponed but Neil Ryan's side begin the term with a home game against Blackburn Rovers at The Cliff on Saturday (10:45 BST kick-off, live on MUTV).

The weekend friendly with Aston Villa provided opportunities for Teden Mengi, Ethan Galbraith and Anthony Elanga to obtain some first-team action and Ole's commitment to investing faith in youth mirrors the ethos of the club.

With the youngsters now playing again after a lengthy pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he is hoping more options emerge over time with a hectic schedule on the cards this season.

“The whole of the Academies in the country must be excited because we lost so many months of valuable time for kids to play,” Ole told us. “So I'm happy we're back.

“I think it's been looking good and there are some interesting and exciting prospects there.”

The boss was asked if the youngsters can take heart from the fact the likes of Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams made such an impact at first-team level last season.

“I would hope so and think so,” he replied. “That should always be part of being a Manchester United Academy player, knowing the pathway is there.

“We, as coaching staff and as a club, will always give good, young players a chance if they go through the ranks, when you're getting ready to get the chance to have a feel of the first team as well.

“Hopefully, some really improve over the course of the season and get in and around the first team.”

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT UNITED THIS WEEK?

It’s set to be a busy week at Manchester United, as the Reds prepare for and then play the club's first Premier League fixture of 2020/21 - at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

But our first team aren’t the only United side in action, with the Reds’ Under-23s and Under-18s kicking off their league campaigns.

Chuck in a few significant anniversaries and birthdays and there really is a lot to look out for over the next week…

MONDAY

We start with Neil Wood’s Under-23s, who began the season with that excellent 6-0 EFL Cup win over Salford City last week. Now attention turns to their maiden league match of 2020/21, with the Reds taking on Leicester City at Leigh Sports Village (19:00 BST). The match can be watched in full on MUTV, with live coverage starting at 18:45 BST.

Elsewhere, this day marks exactly 57 years to the day since George Best made his United debut. The first of his 470 appearances in a Red shirt was a successful one, with Matt Busby’s men beating West Bromwich Albion 1-0 at Old Trafford.

From one Northern Irishman to another, and Monday sees the release of the latest UTD Podcast, which this week stars Roy Carroll. The former Reds goalkeeper had plenty to say about his four-year stint at United, and his life away from Old Trafford. The podcast will be available here from late afternoon.

TUESDAY

While the countdown to our Premier League kick-off continues, our attention will briefly turn to the Carabao Cup as we discover who the Reds will be up against in the third round of the competition. Reading and Luton Town lock horns at 18:00 BST, with the winners set to host United the following week. We have interest in another of Tuesday's ties, too, as Crystal Palace face Bournemouth away. Roy Hodgson’s men will be buoyed after an excellent opening league victory at home Southampton last weekend and their cup game at 19:45 BST will give Ole's staff another chance to assess the Eagles' threat.

WEDNESDAY

On this day in 1992, a 17-year-old Gary Neville made his United debut in a UEFA Cup tie against Torpedo Moscow. The young full-back came on for the final minutes of the first leg, a goalless draw at Old Trafford, but it proved to be his only appearance for the first team that season.

THURSDAY

Focus on the weekend’s Premier League return will really intensify. Ole and his coaching staff at the Aon Training Complex will, no doubt, be applying the final touches to their tactical plan for Palace and discussing whether Donny van de Beek will make his official debut on Saturday, after our new signing played the full 90 minutes in the pre-season friendly against Aston Villa.

FRIDAY

It’s another busy day as we ramp up preparations for the Palace encounter. The manager is set to host his first pre-match press conference of the season and could give an update on which players are available for the Premier League opener. As usual, you can watch his briefing on MUTV but also on ManUtd.com and in the Official App.

Friday could also be the day we announce our full list of squad numbers for the 2020/21 season. We already know van de Beek will wear no.34, while Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams have been given new shirts - 11 and 33 respectively - but fans will soon be able to discover if there are any other changes.

We’ll also be wishing a very happy birthday to former goalkeeper Alex Stepney, who turns 78, and United Women forward Jane Ross, who turns 31 on this day after scoring the opening goal in her team's 5-2 win at Birmingham last Sunday.

SATURDAY

Neil Ryan’s Under-18s kick off an exciting day by taking on Blackburn Rovers at 11:00 BST at the Aon Training Complex, a match you can watch live on MUTV.

A few hours later and attention switches to the big one: our maiden game of the 2020/21 Premier League season. The Reds are out for revenge against Crystal Palace, who came away from Old Trafford with three points last season, although we did beat the Londoners 2-0 at Selhurst Park in July. The match kicks off at 17:30 BST, and there'll be comprehensive coverage across club media, including live radio commentary on MUTV and live updates on ManUtd.com and in our Official App.

SUNDAY

Make sure to check out ManUtd.com and our Official App, for all the reaction to Saturday’s game. Highlights, videos, interviews and opinions: we’ll have everything you need after our season opener.

WHY THE GOALKEEPERS UNION IS A BIG PLUS FOR UNITED

Manchester United must have a claim to possessing the strongest goalkeeping department in the world and Lee Grant believes this is of huge benefit to the club and each individual involved.

Grant came off the bench in Saturday's pre-season friendly at Aston Villa to replace Dean Henderson, who is back from two successful seasons at Sheffield United and earned post-match praise from manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

David De Gea is fresh from some excellent work for Spain in the UEFA Nations League, while ultra-reliable Sergio Romero has long been considered one of the best no.2 keepers in the business. January signing Nathan Bishop is also part of the group and the youngster made his first appearance for the Reds last week, keeping a clean sheet in the 6-0 win at Salford City in the EFL Trophy.

Grant believes the intense competition for places will create a healthy environment and is reflective of the desire to have strength in depth in all areas of the pitch.

“There were lots and lots of positives,” Grant told us after the match at Villa Park. “I don't think anyone will be taking too much notice of the scoreline.

“The most important thing the gaffer stressed before the game was it's a continuation of the work we've been doing in training, especially from the physical aspect, getting valuable minutes into the tank for quite a few players.

“I thought Dean did fantastically well. It's been great to have him back in among us. David has come back from international duty as sharp as ever. I've kept a clean sheet today so I've made the gaffer's job even more difficult for next week!

“It's been great, there's a really good atmosphere within the group and the goalkeeping department is no different to any other department. We're all pulling in the right direction and striving to be fit and ready, and looking forward to next weekend [the opener against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford].

“I imagine, for Dean, it [the loan] has given him huge confidence in himself, and that self-belief is all important, especially at a young age. The next test is obviously in front of him now and he's committed his future to the football club, which is wonderful news. It's great for the department - myself, Dean, Sergio, David, Nathan. It's a long list!

“We all want to play and all want to do well for this club and that can only enhance the atmosphere in the group.”

The 37-year-old was asked by MUTV's Stewart Gardner if it is a nice situation for the manager to have, when choosing who wears the gloves.

“I think so,” he replied. “He's got good characters and good individuals here. That's important and all four or five of understand what it takes. We all want to support each other but, most importantly, we all have the determination to be better than the next one. That's crucial and will stand us in really good stead over the course of the season.

“There are lots and lots of games to play and it's all hands on deck. The goal for this football club is playing 60+ matches a season continuously, and we've shown that we can do that. We're beginning to develop a robustness about us and, certainly, the group is getting stronger and stronger. The goalkeeping department reflects the rest of the group, in that respect.

“Over the course of the season, there are going to be plenty of opportunities for players to stake their claim.”

UTD PODCAST: THE GOAL THAT WASN’T A GOAL

Roy Carroll has spoken about the ‘goal that wasn’t a goal’ during Manchester United’s Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford in 2005.

The goalkeeper famously spilled Pedro Mendes’s long-range shot in that clash 15 years ago and replays showed the ball had clearly crossed the line.

Despite that, the officials on the night didn’t award the goal and the Northern Irishman’s error ultimately went unpunished, as the game ended 0-0.

Carroll is the latest guest on our UTD Podcast series and, during a brilliant episode, co-host David May is keen to dissect the 42-year-old's memories of the incident.

“I remember it really well,” reflects Roy. “It was one of those idiot moments of a goalkeeper who, you’re running back and it’s an easy ball to catch, but I’m looking to throw the ball out to Gary Neville instead of keeping my eye on the ball as it’s come into my chest.

“I always say to young ones: ‘Make sure you react to anything’. As that ball went over my shoulder I still reacted and kept it from going over the line, which was fantastic for me,” he added, with a little grin.

“The worst thing about it - I moved to West Ham after that and I moved to place called Chigwell. I didn’t realise the Spurs training ground was just down the road, so I got hammered when I moved there. It was a nightmare.”

During his UTD Podcast, Carroll is also quizzed about Sir Alex Ferguson’s immediate reaction to the game and Roy admits he escaped without one of the manager's famous rebukes.

“It was the longest walk off the pitch in my life,” says Roy. “It must have taken me about 10 minutes!

“To be fair to Sir Alex he asked what happened and I said: ‘Boss, I took my eye off the ball; I wasn’t concentrating’. He said my reactions were good. I thought I was going to get the hairdryer treatment - I never saw the hairdryer treatment actually, so I can’t say anything about that.”

In four years at Old Trafford, Roy made 72 appearances and proudly won the Premier League title in 2002/03, as well as the FA Cup in 2004

As he reveals during the podcast, the championship is his greatest achievement from a career that has spanned 25 years and is still going at an ammeter level in his native Northern Ireland.

“People said I made a lot of mistakes, especially the Spurs goal. But, at the end of the day, that happens in football. The Spurs goal wasn’t a goal because it was 0-0.

“Let me say about the Premier League… sitting in Enniskillen High School, I said to my careers teacher that I wanted to be a professional footballer. He said: ‘You can’t do it Roy, it’s very difficult’.

“Once I won that [Premier League] medal - that’s the proudest thing of my life. A lot of people try and win it - Steven Gerrard would have loved to, but he never got the chance - so it’s amazing to win that medal.”

WHY SATURDAY'S GAME WAS THE STRANGEST ONE YET

There’s nothing quite like the start of a new Premier League season - a day that fans of all 20 clubs approach full of hope. We’ve got new signings, new kits, new clubs to see, even new fantasy teams!

Normally, the first day of the season is one to circle on the calendar as you indulge yourself with a mini-football feast. In every Premier League campaign to date, matchday one has meant renewing acquittances with an old friend we haven’t seen in a few months. Yet, 2020/21 is a little different.

As the top flight whirred back into life on Saturday, two of its sides went toe to toe in a friendly encounter at Villa Park, and I was lucky to be one of the very few admitted into the ground. To say it was an odd experience is putting it mildly.

The word ‘unique’ was often used to describe games after Project Restart last season, and face masks, temperature checks and empty stands certainly were far from the norm. But 92 fixtures were played in that period during June and July and, in truth, the 'uniqueness’ of the situation began to fade very quickly.

I attended one of United’s games in the latter part of 2019/20, also at Villa Park, when the Reds won 3-0 thanks to goals from Bruno Fernandes, Mason Greenwood and Paul Pogba.

As weird an experience as that July night was, it’s nothing compared to Saturday’s match. At least last season, there were other journalists present, Villa staff members were buzzing around and there was an air of ‘business as usual’ for the majority inside the ground.

This weekend, excluding broadcasters from both clubs, I was the only journalist inside the famous, old stadium. It was bizarre! When I first got there, I stood for a few seconds in the press box and looked around. This is strange.

It was like a nonsensical dream. When I wake up tomorrow morning, I’ll have a chuckle about the impracticalities of all this.

Even from a working perspective, Saturday was like nothing I’ve ever experienced. A matchday is normally the most stressful part of the job, as we try and publish content as close to the full-time whistle as possible, while keeping supporters updated with all the major events via our Official App.

You know that meme of the cat typing on the laptop? Well, that’s pretty much the media department during a game.

But not on Saturday. With the match kicking off at 2pm and ending just before 4pm, the deadline for submitting my match report was actually not until 10pm. That’s more than six hours after the game ended! So, at an eerily empty 40,000+ seater-stadium, I just sat back, watched the match and made notes of the key incidents. I didn’t even begin to write the report until the game’s conclusion.

The lack of available TV screens also contributed to this decision. Had I missed something while typing, I wouldn't have had the trusted replays to let me know what had transpired.

Even the match itself was a tad unusual. In many ways, it had all the characteristics of a significant and serious clash. Music blared around the stadium pre-match, the teams were announced over the tannoy, while the massive screens showed the sort of build-up that would accompany a regular league game.

At times the match had a real ferocity and intensity to it. For a start, there were two yellow cards - for Matty Cash and Jesse Lingard - the referee received the odd remark for a decision and there was even a coming together between two players when Douglas Luiz took offence to a Harry Maguire challenge. The substitutions also didn’t indicate a meaningless game, and Villa boss Dean Smith only made three across the 90 minutes.

Yet, in the same breath, it just clearly wasn’t an all-action clash. Players tended to quickly apologise for fouls and I distinctly heard Jack Grealish shout ‘Are you ok, DJ’, when Daniel James was fouled following Cash’s booking. Meanwhile, with both sides evidently not at 100 per cent match fitness yet, the pace of proceedings really waned in the second half.

Despite all this, there were a few significant milestones on Saturday, most notably a first game for Donny van de Beek. The midfielder, who has only trained with his new team-mates for a few days - gave a solid performance for the Reds, while Dean Henderson, returning from his loan move at Sheffield United, similarly impressed.

It was also a day to remember for Anthony Elanga. I was in attendance at Salford City on Wednesday, as the young Swede put in a superb showing in our Under-21s' 6-0 win, and the Villa Park trip was the ideal opportunity to hand the winger a maiden senior appearance.

As for Ethan Galbraith and Teden Mengi, both of whom have previously played a competitive match in Ole’s first team, the young duo were given another opportunity to show the boss exactly what they can do.

Chuck in a few debuts for the opposition, and the first outing for our much-talked-about new third kit, and amid the relative hush at Villa Park there was actually quite a lot to take in.

Well, it wasn’t exactly silent, with 22 footballers shouting instructions and support across the pitch to one another. You really could hear every word of what was being said, in fact, had I closed my eyes I probably could have recognised which player was speaking based purely on their accents.

I even made out one clear instruction from Ole ahead of a corner - don’t worry boss, I’ll keep that one between us!

With the ground so void of people, I could also easily pick out MUTV commentators Stewart Gardener and Ben Thornley in the opposite stand.

It was just strange. Weird. Unusual. Odd… whatever word you want! And while it was such an amazing thing to experience, it will never compare with the roar of an excited crowd, the booing of a bad tackle or the songs and chants we’re all so used to.

Yes, it was an other-worldly afternoon, but I’d rather stick with what I know, thanks.

The opinions in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Manchester United Football Club.

UTD UNSCRIPTED: DON'T LOOK BACK IN ANGER

When you’re young, you maybe take things for granted a little bit.

When I was named in the Champions League squad to face Wolfsburg in Germany back in 2009, I thought of it as something I’d earned. It was the logical next step for me. Now, 11 years on, I’m 29, I’ve retired from football and I can look back and see it for the absolute privilege that it was.

The journey through the ranks at United is a crazy one. You get scouted, you sign on as a kid and it’s such an amazing feeling to tell your family that you play for United. There aren’t a lot of kids that will get that chance and it’s a long journey to the first team. In my time at the club I never made a massive step forward or backwards, I just followed the path. I stepped up in years, went into the youth team, into the Reserves and I did the same in the England system: from the U16s to the U17s to the U19s to the U21s, so it was always in steps for me.

Every now and then I’d train with the first team, and when you went over to their training pitch, you really saw why they were first team players and why they’d had such amazing careers. It just showed you where you wanted to be and what it would take to get there. Giggs, Scholes, Carrick, Hargreaves… the standards that they would set themselves just showed you what was required.

I remember looking at the situation of the players in front of me, and it’s arguably one of the best front threes United have ever had: Tevez, Rooney and Ronaldo. Behind them was Nani, and he had an absolutely outstanding talent. The things I’d see Nani do in training put him on a level with Ronaldo, I just think maybe Cristiano’s mindset carried him further. Nani was still one of the most gifted players in the world at the time. You weren’t just working towards a first team you could walk into; you were challenging some of the best players in the world, not just the best in England. That went for positions all around the pitch at the time; Edwin van der Sar in goal, a defence with Rio, Vidic, Evra… United’s team at the time wasn’t something you could stroll into.

If you are going to be a young player at United, you still have to believe that you’re going to do it. I can talk about my years competing with Ronaldo, lads before me can talk about competing with Yorke, Cole, Beckham, Giggs, Cantona… you can go back further. Manchester United is always going to have top players. No matter what decade or era you’re in, it’s not easy to get into that team. You’ve got to be more than proud of the achievement of getting to the cusp.

Making the squad for Wolfsburg, as far as I was concerned at that time, was the next step for me. It was the last Champions League group game in 2009/10, and we’d already qualified for the next round but we needed a draw or a win to finish top of the group. The gaffer was missing about 15 players for different reasons, so all the young lads knew that there might be a chance to be involved.

I knew that it was going to be between a few of us. I’m not convinced, looking back, that I was completely confident I’d be picked, but I did know that it was going to come down to who was playing well at the time and who had done well for Ole and Warren in the Reserves. They were going to have a big say in it, because the boss would have seen bits and bobs of us, but I suspect he would have asked them before making the final decision on which lads he’d be taking to Germany. I think what gave me some confidence that my name would have been in the conversation was that I had done well for Ole and Warren.

By the way, what a managerial pair they were. They had different styles but I cannot speak highly enough of what Ole and Warren did for my career, for my life, really. Moving forward after United, they put me in such good stead. My whole United path was lined by great coaches and people, who all contributed to make players good human beings. I swear there’s no better place to be. Ole and Warren probably get my nod as the best coaches I had because they helped me and nurtured me in ways that were different. Warren was seen as a hard man, and he was tough in terms of fitness and demanding more to make you a better player, but he was absolutely brilliant at talking to us and making us feel confident and happy. He was very versatile. People have this preconception that Ole was the nice one and Warren was the hard one, but that’s not quite true. If there was anyone who I knew would give me an earful at half-time, it was Ole, not Warren. Ole has a ruthless side to him and if he didn’t like something, you’d know about it. The two of them together were perfection, and anyone who played under them will tell you the same. I can’t praise the pair of them enough.

So I was quite hopeful they’d speak highly of me to the manager. I think a few of us found out we’d be going the morning before the first team travelled to Germany. The whole squad, including the Reserves, were on the bikes and a few of us – me, Ollie Norwood, Magnus Eikrem, Ollie Gill, Matty James – were told that we’d be training with the first team that day, which meant one thing:

Woah. We’re travelling.

I remember telling my family. It made me realise the journey we’d all been through and where I’d gotten to, because Mum and Dad were ecstatic, to say the least. Mum’s usually quite reserved but dad was so excited. Sometimes I think some parents think they invested a lot in helping their kids to build a career in football and are maybe owed something, but mine never did that. When I got in that squad and when I made it into England squads, they were proud of me because of what I’d invested, not because of what they’d put into it. They were just proud of how hard I’d worked and how well I’d done.

You know what stands out most in my mind from that trip? Manchester Airport. Arriving there and being blown away. The Media presence, everything surrounding you is just so, so different. You think people are interested in you when you’re playing for United’s Reserves, and you might get recognised out and about every now and again, but travelling with United’s first team is just something different altogether. The amount of cameras just watching you walk around, the number of people who just want to speak to you… everything around it is just so different, so overwhelming. It’s something that I’ll never forget, going to the airport that day. It’s another world. You always have to present yourself correctly for Manchester United, but on the day you’re part of the first team squad, that’s even more so. You feel 10 feet tall and it puts your confidence on top of the world. For anybody who wants to play football, there is no better feeling. Scoring goals is one thing, but there’s just something about walking around as part of the first team squad that you can’t even describe.

Before the game itself, I don’t think I was overawed. I was psyched for the game, very excited for it. I remember the boss came up to all us young lads after the warm-up and just said: “Look, enjoy today and things will take care of themselves. If you get an opportunity then don’t be afraid to take it.” I don’t think it overawed me at all, I just looked forward to it. I didn’t feel any pressure. Listen, if I knew I was going on the pitch or if I was starting the game then it may have been different, but I think the way we were told to enjoy the experience made everyone feel more relaxed about it. It wasn’t a pressure scenario, it was a case of: enjoy this moment, you deserve it.

We had 15 players out, we had a back three of Evra, Carrick and Fletcher, but so what? If we’d botched the game, the manager may have come out afterwards and pointed out the number of players missing for a hard fixture, but that’s not the conversation we had in the dressing room. We’re still Man United players. We still expect to win this game. At any level of the club, that’s what’s drilled into you. How else are we going to think? It was just another game – regardless of who was in the squad – where we go out, play our football and try to win the game.

And we did.

Looking back, it was not an easy game. Of course it wasn’t. It was a Champions League tie. I’d watched the competition and experiences playing for England, but being part of a Champions League game like that showed me just how good other leagues’ teams were. We weren’t playing Bayern Munich, this was Wolfsburg – by which I mean no disrespect – but they were still a top team with top players. We had to hang in there at times, but Michael Owen scored an outstanding hat-trick so we came away with a 3-1 win, which was a great result at the time.

Flying back afterwards, the feeling I had was one of: work hard, go back and achieve that again. There was no point coming home and feeling like I’d travelled with the first team so I’d made it. There were 15 players injured, after all. My thoughts were clear: if you want to feel that way again and reach that level again, it’s time to come home and work harder. I think it also gave me the desire to go out and play first team football. The way that the first team prepared, travelled and focused was something that stuck with me, and I wanted to go and try that every week. It’s difficult at United because you always want to be around, you never want to go, but at the same time a good loan can set you up to come back. Or it can set you up to join another club. The fact is, we can’t all make it into the first team.

I couldn’t think of one bad word for my time at United, none whatsoever. From the moment I arrived to the day I left, they helped me with every single step of my journey. Even when I left, it was done nicely. There was an opportunity for me to stay. All I can do is thank the club for the opportunity and for my upbringing, really. Obviously your parents bring you up, but I left home at 15 to live in digs. Really that’s part of when you start to become a man and I learned that at United. I’d like to think I’m a good man, so hopefully they did alright.

So I went on to play for a lot of different clubs, including some really good ones, but I retired at 28 because I just felt like I was done with football. I needed a breather because everything was becoming a bit much. I’d had two ACL reconstructions and just didn’t feel the same about the game. I didn’t want to coach so I had to look for something else to do with my time. I could have stopped altogether and done nothing, but you have to do something with your life, so I looked into things that I wanted to do.

It’s a huge change in lifestyle, of course. You listen to ex-players on TalkSport talking about what life’s like after you’ve quit playing and if I'd carried on playing I would probably just have batted that off, but I can tell you now that it’s harder than you think. Sometimes you’re disappointed in yourself and think about what you should have done, what you could’ve done, what you didn’t do and you find yourself thinking and thinking. Sometimes, being sat at home with your own thoughts is not a good place to be. I now think about how proud I am of the things that I did do, what I’ve achieved in such a short career and life, and what I hope to achieve in the future in a different way – whatever that may be.

I probably lost about 18 months, which is not too bad compared to some, just not knowing what to do and not wanting to do anything. I knew I wasn’t going to play again but didn’t want to accept it. The wages and the lifestyle are gone. When you stop playing and you think about it, is that you have to realise that that income is never going to be the same and you’re going to have to manage until you retire. Your life isn’t the same and you have to process that and manage it. For me, it was all about baby steps, going from what you spent before to what you could now afford, it was just so different.

My Mum’s a manager at a medical centre, an opening came up which was part time so I ended up going in as a prescription clerk. You handle people’s repeat medication, make sure everything’s in line and just do quite simple stuff. It started out as a hobby, really, but I found medicine more and more interesting. I want more and more responsibility, which has ultimately led to me hoping to one day be a pharmacist.

For a player in my situation, retiring so young, some parents might have had that glimmer of ‘what if’, but mine never did. They were both really proud of where we’d gotten to in the first place, what we’d achieved and how hard we’d worked. They never once questioned what I was doing. It was just: “If that’s what you want to do, son, that’s what you do.” I’d had two ACL reconstructions at that point, so they just said: “If you know you’re not feeling the same, if you know that you’re not reaching the levels you were at, then don’t put yourself through something that’s making you unhappy.” It was never about what they’d put in, it was about what I’d put in, and I can’t tell them enough how much I appreciate that.

I was pleased that there were things we could all look back on and be proud of together, though. I’ve kept four shirts from special occasions in my career – my first England shirt, my last England shirt, the one from the Reserves’ cup final against Aston Villa and my Champions League shirt from the Wolfsburg trip.

My journey didn’t get me on the pitch in Germany, but just being on that trip was one of the pinnacles of my parents’ lives. I’m happy enough with that.

SHAW HAS NO DOUBTS UNITED WILL BE READY

Fit-again Luke Shaw insists Manchester United are targeting trophies and not merely a top-four finish despite a disjointed pre-season.

The Reds have had little break since reaching the Europa League semi-finals last term and, instead of starting the Premier League campaign at Burnley, were instead facing Aston Villa in a friendly on Saturday.

Although there may be an over-reaction in some quarters to a 1-0 loss in a game where the result was far down the list of priorities, Shaw is looking forward to welcoming many of the regulars back into the fold in time for next weekend's Old Trafford opener against Crystal Palace.

Shaw was a positive outlet down the left flank in the Midlands and his return is one of the clear positives from the Villa Park friendly. However, he stressed manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will continue his determination to get the Reds to finish off our chances, with that the only thing lacking from the performance in the first half.

“Obviously it's a friendly but I'm disappointed we didn't win,“ he told us. ”And we lost. I'm really disappointed, to be honest.

“We create opportunities but struggle at times to find the back of the net. As someone with the [playing] experience he has, in that sort of position, the manager is really on to the players about that in training, trying to improve that.

“But the main focus today was obviously getting minutes in the tank. It has been a very disjointed pre-season really. At the start of pre-season, there were only four of us training, with what's going on at the moment, the quarantines and the internationals, so it was very difficult for us.”

On the subject of his own fitness, Luke reported: “I feel really good. I worked really hard over the short time everyone had off and I'm ready to go.

“We've trained hard and this game was really about minutes and getting ready for next week. We had a lot of players out and a lot of young players, who hadn't been training with us. They just came with us today and played well when they got the chance.

“Hopefully, the [absent players] will all get back for [training on] Monday. We're working hard. We will be ready next week.”

As for the unusually short close season, Shaw admitted: “It's a very weird feeling, especially for me. I don't feel I've had much time off. I haven't,to be honest!

“But this is life sometimes. You need to be ready, whatever happens, and it's one of those scenarios where we have a lot of world-class players we're looking forward to getting back [in training] on Monday.

“We're ready for the season. We need to be strong and focused on winning trophies, not getting into the top four. A club like us should be winning trophies.”

WHAT DID WE LEARN FROM VAN DE BEEK’S FIRST GAME?

Donny van de Beek made his first Manchester United appearance during Saturday’s friendly clash with Aston Villa.

The midfielder, who only trained with his new team-mates for the first time this week, put in a solid performance for the Reds, but could not prevent us from falling to a 1-0 defeat.

However, United were missing several key players in the West Midlands and, with building fitness very much the main objective of the afternoon, there were still plenty of positives to take from the loss against Dean Smith’s men.

Getting 90 minutes into van de Beek’s legs is certainly one of them. Prior to Saturday, Donny had played just over an hour of football in six months, so the warm-up match against Villa will have significantly boosted the Dutchman’s fitness levels.

The encounter also gave us a first indication of what role the 23-year-old will have in the United team. Donny began the game in a deeper central midfield role alongside Scott McTominay. The duo worked well together in the middle of the park, with van de Beek’s elegance and composure complemented by Scott’s all-action, energetic approach.

From centre-midfield, the former Ajax man dictated the pace and flow of the game in the first half and ensured United retained possession for long periods in the opening 45 minutes.

Yes, there was a bit of rustiness to Donny’s game - that’s to be expected - but it was clear, even from this outing, that United have completed a shrewd bit of business by adding van de Beek to our squad.

In particular, a ball out to Daniel James around the half-hour mark indicated what Donny’s all about. The weight of pass and placement were perfect and only the assistant-referee’s flag denied the Wales international an opportunity to run at the Villa backline.

But it wasn’t all precision passes and neat interplay, we also saw one instance of the uglier side of the game - something all successful sides require.

When Villa’s main man Jack Grealish picked up the ball on 14 minutes and started venturing forward, the hosts could have been set to launch an attack. Donny put paid to that by giving away a foul that helped his team-mates out.

As the game went on, the Netherlands international was pushed further up the field and into a no.10 role. It’s in this position that Donny really announced himself to the footballing world with his sublime performances for Ajax in the Champions League.
From that part of the pitch, van de Beek had more of an opportunity to roam across the field - once or twice he was even United’s furthest forward player, while he also occasionally flitted into the wide areas.

Positioned behind the striker, Donny repeated looked to slip balls into James and Jesse Lingard, and he provided several promising link-ups with the duo. He created an opening for Ethan Galbraith in the closing stages with one swift pass.

It may have been his first game for the Reds, but already the signs look good for van de Beek. His adaptability, range of skills and all-round ability level will give Ole Gunnar Solskjaer an extra option in 2020/21, a season that kicks off in just seven days’ time. And he's already made a positive impression on Luke Shaw, who told us: “He's done really well considering he's only trained with us for two days. The most important thing for him is getting to know the players and knowing how each other plays, so we've got the whole week, next week, to slot him in. So far, so good. He's a very nice guy so I'm sure he'll slot in really well.”

Whether we’ll see Donny from the off when we take on Crystal Palace next weekend is another thing, given his lack of match fitness. But rest assured, over the course of the campaign Donny has a big role to play in this United team.

OLE'S PRAISE FOR THREE PLAYERS AT VILLA PARK

Manchester United's only pre-season game ahead of the 2020/21 campaign still gave Ole Gunnar Solskjaer plenty to think about, and talk about in his post-match interview.

Speaking after Saturday's 1-0 away defeat to Aston Villa, a game that can be viewed in full on MUTV.com, the Norwegian named several players who had impressed him - none of whom were in his first-team plans last season.

New signing Donny van de Beek, goalkeeper Dean Henderson and young defender Teden Mengi were the trio who merited the manager's praise, and he also had words of encouragement for Academy midfielder Ethan Galbraith.

Scroll down to read what Ole said about them, the game overall and how his squad might be stronger for next Saturday, when the real action begins with an opening Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

“In the first half I thought we played some good stuff and created chances. The most important thing is valuable minutes because this pre-season is such a strange and different one for us. We've had two weeks back and it's only one week now until we start the league. Of course, the Europa League will help us in that respect because the players who have played in that over the summer don't really need that much, and some of the international games. But you could clearly see that some of them need minutes.”

LACK OF SHARPNESS IN ATTACK

“We said at half-time that we were playing some great football at times and getting into some fantastic positions, but there was a lack of sharpness and maybe a lack of lungs because it's early doors. But we need to be more clinical, we need to score those goals because then you go home happy. Then again, the result wasn't the main thing.”

PLUS POINTS

“There were some positives as well, some good positives like individual performances - I thought Deano showed his authority back there and he played like a proper Man United goalkeeper. And especially in the second half, you saw Teden when he came on, how exciting a prospect he is.”

VAN DE BEEK'S FIRST GAME

“Donny was maybe the biggest plus in the outfield. He's such a finder of space and he creates time for himself with his timing and movement. I was very happy with his performance.”

VALUABLE GAME-TIME FOR YOUNG PLAYERS

“They'll learn from it of course. Young Ethan Galbraith has been with us in the summer, in the Europa League, he's been training with us and then he gets minutes today and you could see he's got less time [on the ball]. I spoke to him after the game and he knows a couple of times he gets caught on the ball but that's the learning he needs. That's going to make him, next time he's on the pitch, be ready for it.”

STRONGER SQUAD FOR NEXT SATURDAY

“We expect more of them to be match fit [by then]. The international players who didn't travel today have had the minutes they needed, some of them, and we'll get a few more back.”

Friendly: Aston Villa 1 Man. United 0

Manchester United received a welcome warm-up for the 2020/21 Premier League season in a 1-0 friendly defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was without the services of several key members of his first-team squad, and handed a number of players their maiden senior appearance for the Reds.

There was a first glimpse of Donny van de Beek, our summer signing from Ajax, and Dean Henderson, back from two seasons at Sheffield United, kept goal. Young forward Anthony Elanga was one of the substitutes used during the second half to get a first taste of senior football, while fellow rookies Teden Mengi and Ethan Galbraith also got on.

It was a quiet opening in the West Midlands on Saturday, with the only real chances in the opening quarter of an hour coming via a Conor Hourihane free-kick, which blazed over, and, following fine work by Scott McTominay and van de Beek, a dangerous Daniel James cross that fizzed into the Villa box but wasn’t met by a United player.

When the first real chance of note presented itself, it proved to be crucial. Jack Grealish picked the ball up on the left wing and fired a ball over to Trezeguet on the other flank. The Egyptian sent in a great cross right onto the head of Ollie Watkins, and Villa’s new striking recruit nodded it past Henderson.

Whether the goal should have stood, however, is up for debate given James was brought down in the Villa box just a minute prior, but referee Lee Mason adjudged Ezri Konsa’s challenge to be legal.

United continued to press after Watkins’s opener and Jesse Lingard went close from a shot on the edge of the box, after some neat link-up play with Odion Ighalo

The Nigerian centre-forward then had a serious penalty claim when he was up-ended in the box, but again referee Mason waved away the Reds’ appeals.
Just after the 30-minute mark, Watkins came close to doubling Villa’s lead, but the cross into him from Grealish was just a few centimetres too far ahead of the striker’s run.

Lingard was proving to be United's most dangerous outlet and he was unlucky not to score when he dropped a shoulder on the edge of the box and curled an effort towards the bottom corner. However, Villa goalkeeper Jed Steer was equal to it and palmed the ball wide.

United certainly ended the half stronger and, somehow, a goalmouth scramble just before the interval didn’t yield a goal. Ighalo, Harry Maguire and James all looked destined to score within the space of 15 seconds, but were denied by some frantic Villa defending.

Lingard then provided the last chance of the first period when Luke Shaw’s cross found the midfielder in the box, but again Steer denied him.

The second half was a much scrappier affair, with both sides understandably lacking full match fitness. James caused the Villa backline issues down our left flank with several dangerous crosses and the Wales international also hit the side-netting with a strike on 64 minutes.

Villa also failed to create any clear-cut chances - the hosts’ best opportunity came courtesy of John McGinn, but his side-footed effort failed to seriously test Henderson. However, they enjoyed a greater share of possession and did apply some pressure.

Both managers began to make changes after the hour-mark, which affected the flow of proceedings at Villa Park. Rashford had one of United’s most promising chances, but his shot from the edge of the box flew just wide.

Van de Beek - who enjoyed a solid United debut - showed signs of the interplay and technical passing we’ll hopefully see from him over the course of the season.
He played in youngster Galbraith with 15 minutes remaining, but the Northern Irishman’s strike was always curling away from Steer’s goal.

Lingard then produced the last opening of note in the game when he nearly chipped the Villa keeper from all of 35 yards. Our no.14 noticed Steer off his line and quickly fired an effort on target, however, the keeper got back just in time to make a smart save.

All in all, the result was never going to be important but certainly the first-half display by the Reds was better than the second.

MATCH DETAILS
Aston Villa: Steer; Cash (Elmohamady 71), Konsa, Mings, Targett; Hourihane, Luiz, McGinn; Trezeguet (Jota 76), Watkins (Samatta 66), Grealish.

Substitutes not used: Nyland, Sinisalo, Taylor, Lansbury, Nkamba, El Ghazi, Guilbert, Hause, Ramsey, Davis.

Scorer: Watkins 16.

Booked: Cash 55.

United: Henderson (Grant 75); Dalot (Williams 70), Fosu-Mensah, Maguire, Shaw; McTominay (Galbraith 45), van de Beek, Lingard, Rashford (Elanga 75), James; Ighalo (Mengi 61).

Booked: Lingard 56.

CONFIRMED: FIRST GAME FOR UNITED'S NEW THIRD KIT

It can be officially revealed that Manchester United will wear the new adidas third kit for the first time during today's friendly against Aston Villa.

The strip, which was released on Tuesday, features a visually distinctive design, inspired by striped jerseys from the club’s history, and is available to purchase from United Direct and adidas now.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side premiered the new home and away kits for 2020/21 at the tail end of last season, during the Europa League clashes with LASK and Sevilla respectively.

Fans who watch the Villa game on MUTV at 22:00 BST could also be afforded their first opportunity to see new signing Donny van de Beek in a United shirt, after the Dutch international completed his transfer from Ajax last week.

The 23-year-old joined up with his new team-mates at the Aon Training Complex on Wednesday and should be involved in the match in the West Midlands.

EXCLUSIVE: SOLSKJAER EXCITED FOR NEW SEASON

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking forward to getting back under way after a ‘different’ and ‘strange’ pre-season.

The boss spoke to us ahead of today's friendly at Aston Villa, which is the only match the Reds will play to prepare for the new Premier League campaign. It will be shown in full on MUTV at 22:00 tonight.

As well as giving some insight into his squad plans for the game in the West Midlands, Solskjaer elaborated on how Donny van de Beek is fitting into the group and also spoke about Harry Maguire and the transfer window.

Read the full Q&A below…

How excited are you to be on the verge of another season in charge of this football club?
“Very. Of course, now has been a different pre-season and a different summer but it’s been a quick turnaround and we’re excited, of course. We’ve had a few weeks away from each other but then we’ve started again.”

Given how the team developed under you and the coaching staff’s guidance, how happy are you with the progress and how close are we to challenging for the very top honours again?
“I’m happy with the way we improved and we developed. Of course, after the January transfer window, we lost two important games in two semi-finals but they were the two defeats we had. Of course, those hurt, they really hurt, but the way the team caught up how many points? Fourteen points was it to catch up with the top four, we managed to do that and it gives us a very good belief that we can kick on, move forward and improve again.”

You’ve definitely managed to improve players’ performances. On the players’ turnaround, we’ve seen Donny arrive. How has he settled into the group?
“He’s been training only a couple of days but he’s a bright, bubbly character. He wants to learn and the first few signs are positive, not that I doubted that one because I’ve followed him for a few years, of course. He’s been a talented youngster and now we felt he was ready to come here. He felt it was the best place to come so, for us, it’s a good transfer.”

It’s a really good bit of business. How do you see the rest of the window given how the market is shaping up?
“It’s been a strange time and a strange world. Financially, I’m sure loads of clubs have suffered. It looks like it as there has not been a lot of activity in the window. We’re always looking to improve the squad, scouting players and, if something fits, both the financial bit and the football bit, of course we’ll try to make some business. But we can’t know how the markets and how other clubs have been affected either.”

Harry Maguire had a difficult summer with what happened in Greece. How is he and what’s your thinking towards him for the new season?
“Of course, Harry, as you said, had a difficult summer. He didn’t have a long break. His break was different to others as we gave him a few more days and, after, he’s come back and looked fine. He’s handled it really well and, of course, I’ll be here to support him. He is going to be our captain. We’ll just leave Harry and his people and the process to run. For me, he is a top, an absolute top human being and has always been a positive guy with the right values. So I really hope we can see Harry performing at his best.”

Paul Pogba has had a difficult time as well, after testing positive for coronavirus. How is he and how likely is he to be fit for Palace?
“Paul’s had a couple of training sessions so he’s lost out on a few sessions because of the virus, of course. But Paul is quick to get fit. Of course, he worked really hard to get back after lockdown last time and played the majority of the games. Hopefully, he’ll be ready for next weekend. I am not 100 per cent sure though.”

Hopefully, Paul will be fit but what about the players who missed the tail-end of last season – what’s the latest on the injury front?
“For me, Luke is looking really good in training. He has come back, looking strong, and will play in the friendly against Villa. Then Axel is getting closer as well. In a few weeks’ time, I guess he will be with us training full-time and hopefully we’ll be able to give him games quickly.”

How important is the Villa game going to be for your preparations?
“It’s going to be a game to give players minutes. Some have trained more than others and some will be more ready than others. Some played international games, which actually sometimes you think you don’t really want that but some of them have got valuable minutes there. We’ll give the others minutes against Villa so they can all start on a decent level because it’s going to be a long season. The result is not going to matter at all, the performance and fitness work are going to be important.”

It’s strange not to have the usual amount of pre-season games to go through tactics and minutes on the pitch. It’s been an unusual pre-season...
“Then again, it’s the world we live in. That’s the reality of it, no point arguing or discussing it or being miserable or moaning about it. This is the reality. We’re going to make the most of it. Of course, the first few games are going to be important to give as many players minutes as well because it’s such a long season. We’re going to need most of them throughout the season.”

It’s an interesting calendar isn’t it? We start a week after most teams but we’re all hoping fans will be back soon. How much are you missing that magical atmosphere?
“We miss it. We thought the time was getting closer but you follow the news and the trends and I just hope that the world will be closer to normal soon. But that’s what the government and the authorities have to decide, when we can get the majority of the fans back because they are the best and we’ve missed them at Old Trafford, definitely.”

Finally, what do you say to the fans all over the world who can’t get to the ground but watch it all on TV?
“Well, thanks for your support so far. We know they’re there with us. We’re going to keep on improving and hopefully, next time they come back to Old Trafford, they’ll have got a team to support that they really like.”

NEW SLEEVE BADGE TO BE WORN IN PREMIER LEAGUE

The Premier League issued the following statement on sleeve badges ahead of the new season...

“At the Premier League club captains’ meeting, it was agreed that players and match officials will wear a ‘No Room For Racism’ sleeve badge on their shirts for the 2020/21 season.
“This is the first time the badge will feature on players’ and officials’ kit throughout the season, and will act as a constant reminder of the commitment by the Premier League, its clubs, players and PGMOL to eradicate racism.

“This initiative will build on the momentum created last season when, in consultation with the players, ‘Black Lives Matter’ appeared on kits for all the games following the restart. The League will also continue to support players who ‘take a knee’ at matches.

“Since launching in March 2019, the No Room For Racism campaign has brought together the Premier League’s wide-ranging work promoting equality and inclusion across all areas of football.

“Matches dedicated to No Room For Racism have sent strong messages to fans attending games and those watching around the world, encouraging behavioural change and urging them to take action by reporting any racist conduct.

“Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: 'We, our clubs, players and match officials have a long-standing commitment to tackling discrimination.
“'Players rightly have a strong voice on this matter, which we saw last season. We have continued to talk and listen to players on this issue and will support them as well as continuing to emphasise the Premier League’s position against racism.

“Discrimination in any form, anywhere, is wholly unacceptable and No Room For Racism makes our zero-tolerance stance clear. We will not stand still on this important issue and we will continue to work with our clubs, players and partners to address all prejudiced behaviour.'“

OLE HOPEFUL ON POGBA RETURN

Paul Pogba is back in training but remains a doubt for Manchester United's Premier League opener against Crystal Palace on Saturday 19 September.

The France international was forced to withdraw from his country's squad for the recent UEFA Nations League matches after testing positive for COVID-19, as did several of his colleagues with the world champions.

He has returned to the fold and recuperated, getting back on the pitch at the Aon Training Complex this week.

“Paul’s had a couple of training sessions so he’s lost out on a few sessions because of the virus, of course,” Ole told us in an exclusive interview with MUTV's Mark Sullivan on Friday morning. “But Paul is quick to get fit. Of course, he worked really hard to get back after lockdown last time and played the majority of the games.

“Hopefully, he’ll be ready for next weekend. I am not 100 per cent sure though.”

Pogba made 14 of his 22 United appearances last term after football resumed in June, helping propel the Reds into third place in the Premier League table.

Although the Frenchman looks set to miss Saturday's friendly against Aston Villa, which is being shown in full on MUTV, Luke Shaw will feature in the game after returning to fitness.

Axel Tuanzebe misses out on a reunion with his former loan club but new signing Donny van de Beek is likely to get a first outing for the Reds.

EARLY TEAM NEWS FOR ASTON VILLA FRIENDLY

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has spoken to us exclusively about how his team is shaping up ahead of Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Aston Villa.

The Reds have been given an extra week to prepare for our Premier League opener against Crystal Palace on 19 September.

The Villans are also out of action as they were set to face Manchester City and so the sides will convene at Villa Park tomorrow for what is to be our only preparation for the new campaign – and you can watch the full match on MUTV from 22:00 BST.

Ole had some good news on the injury front, revealing that Luke Shaw is set to play after missing the back-end of last season with an ankle problem.

Our trip to the West Midlands comes a little too soon for Axel Tuanzebe, although the homegrown centre-back is approaching a first-team return in the coming weeks.

“For me, Luke is looking really good in training. He has come back, looking strong, and will play in the friendly against Villa,” Ole told us.

“Then Axel is getting closer as well. In a few weeks’ time, I guess he will be with us training full-time and hopefully we’ll be able to give him games quickly.”

While it’s been under four weeks since our 2019/20 campaign drew to a close in Cologne, Solskjaer sees the contest against Dean Smith’s side as vital for match fitness.

Ten Reds played international matches over the last week and they could be involved on Saturday – with fans set to get the chance to see Donny van de Beek in a United shirt for the first time.

Ole added that the friendly was also an opportunity for those who didn’t feature for their countries to rack up some game-time.

“It’s going to be a game to give players minutes,” Solskjaer added.

“Some have trained more than others and some will be more ready than others. Some played international games, which actually sometimes you think you don’t really want that but some of them have got valuable minutes there.

“We’ll give the others minutes against Villa so they can all start on a decent level because it’s going to be a long season.”

Of course, before any other season the Reds would be coming off the back of five or six friendlies, played in various countries throughout the world.

But this season – already shortened by one month from the usual August to May cycle – is unlike any other and Solskjaer says he and his players are going to have to adjust as best they can.

“Then again, it’s the world we live in. That’s the reality of it, no point arguing or discussing it or being miserable or moaning about it. This is the reality.

“We’re going to make the most of it. Of course, the first few games are going to be important to give as many players minutes as well because it’s such a long season.

“We’re going to need most of them throughout the season.”

DUBLIN EXPECTING HIGH-QUALITY CONTEST

Dion Dublin knows a thing or two about both Manchester United and Aston Villa and he is anticipating a top-class friendly on Saturday between his former clubs.

The ex-England striker joined one of our MUTV Group Chat episodes this week and was asked about the Reds' sole pre-season fixture, ahead of our first Premier League match with Crystal Palace on 19 September.

He feels the friendly, which will be shown in full on MUTV from 22:00 BST on Saturday night, will give real pointers as to the starting line-up and plans for the Palace encounter and provide fans with an opportunity to get a glimpse of how things will start to pan out in 2020/21.

“The big thing is how both teams approach it,” explained Dublin. “It's so close to the season, I would imagine they have to play close to the team they're going to play on the first day of the new campaign.

“They need to see how everything works so it does make for a very interesting game. Obviously, there are no punters in the stadium, of course, but it should be a high-quality game, which is great for the players.

“They know what the speed of the game is and what quality they will be facing.

“When I played, Villa versus United was the biggest game of the season there. Whoever plays United, it's their biggest game of the season, as players want to raise their game and stand out as an individual.”

The man who scored the Reds' first-ever winning goal in the Premier League, at Southampton, insists nobody will yet be in peak condition, despite the close proximity to the end of last season.

“You'd be surprised how quickly you can lose fitness,” he explained. “There's fitness and match fitness so the lads will still look fit to the general public but probably only be 75 per cent fit when it comes to being ready to play in the Premier League again.

“It is such a high standard for so long and the intensity of the games is huge. So it'll be topping up. Fitness-wise, they're fine, but the match fitness won't quite be right. They're training again and just getting a bit of sharpness back and then they'll all be fine.

“Everyone is in the same position so I'm looking forward to it.”

ASTON VILLA V UNITED: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

Manchester United will warm up for the start of our 2020/21 Premier League season when we take on Aston Villa in a friendly match this Saturday.

It’s just over two months since we last made the trip to Villa Park - a journey the Reds have tended to enjoy in the Premier League era - but quite a bit has changed in the West Midlands since we last faced Dean Smith’s side.

With a dramatic end to last season for the home side, plus a few new signings, there’s now a different feel to this Villa outfit - so here’s everything you need to know about Saturday’s opponents...

WHEN DID WE LAST PLAY THEM?

As mentioned above, the Reds’ most recent meeting with Villa came in July, when we won 3-0 in the Premier League thanks to goals from Bruno Fernandes, Mason Greenwood and Paul Pogba. Prior to that, we last played the Villans in December at Old Trafford, in a game that finished 2-2, with Victor Lindelof on the scoresheet for us along with an own goal from former Reds keeper Tom Heaton.

HOW DID THEY GET ON LAST SEASON?

With four games remaining in 2019/20, Villa looked destined for an immediate return to the Championship as they were seven points from safety. However, wins against Crystal Palace and Arsenal and two draws in games with Everton and West Ham ensured the Villans’ dramatic final-day survival. Villa ultimately finished 17th with 35 points, just one more than relegated Bournemouth. Saturday’s opponents also made it to the Carabao Cup final last term, where they were beaten 2-1 by Manchester City.

ANY NEW SIGNINGS?

Dean Smith has added two new recruits to his Villa side in recent weeks, both of whom could be in line to feature at the weekend. Full-back Matty Cash was brought in from Nottingham Forest, and the converted winger will add more attacking impetus to this Villa outfit. The club also broke their transfer record fee this week to sign Ollie Watkins from Brentford. The striker netted 25 league goals for the Bees last term and was voted the Championship’s Player of the Season.

WHY AREN’T VILLA IN LEAGUE ACTION?

The West Midlands outfit were originally scheduled to play Manchester City this weekend in their inaugural 2020/21 Premier League game. However, like United, Pep Guardiola’s men were given extra time off before their first game of the new term, given their extended run in Europe last season.

OUR RECORD AT VILLA PARK

To say that Villa Park has been a happy hunting ground for United is an understatement. Saturday’s opponents haven’t beaten us at home this century - you have to go back to 1995 for the Claret and Blues’ last home league win over the Reds. That’s 23 consecutive Premier League clashes without defeat at the famous, old ground in the Midlands, and we’ve won five of our last six there.

VILLA PARK WARM-UP PERFECT FOR REDS' PREPARATION

What better place to prepare for the 2020/21 season than at Villa Park, scene of so many enjoyable Manchester United games?

With Aston Villa's Premier League start delayed, like ours, as they were due to face Manchester City, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is taking his side down to the Midlands for our only pre-season fixture due to the quick turnaround this year.

The Reds' long run in the Europa League has necessitated an extra week before kicking off in the league but the latter stages of that tournament, in some respects, was almost like a more common summer tour. The games came thick and fast overseas and it might compensate in a small way for the lack of the usual preparation.

All eyes will be on whether Donny van de Beek will make his first appearance in a United shirt, following his move from Ajax.

Ole is expected to bring us up to date with the team news ahead of the match when we speak to him on Friday, on the eve of the friendly - which is being shown in full on MUTV from 22:00 BST on Saturday night.

There will be an opportunity to check out the shape and formation the boss uses in readiness for the Old Trafford encounter with Crystal Palace on Saturday 19 September.

We drew 2-2 with Villa at home last season before an excellent post-lockdown performance at Villa Park secured a 3-0 victory.

Villans manager Dean Smith could hand a start to his major summer signing, from his former club Brentford, striker Ollie Watkins.

PROMISING MENGI HAS 'SOMETHING SPECIAL'

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes there is “something special” about young defender Teden Mengi but has urged caution about throwing him in at the deep end at Manchester United.

Last term’s Under-18s captain made his senior bow as a substitute in the Europa League second-leg win over LASK at Old Trafford and was part of the squad that competed in the latter stages of the tournament in Germany.

The latest of our long line of Academy debutants skippered an Under-21s side and helped keep a clean sheet in the first competitive fixture for the club in 2020/21, as Salford City were beaten 6-0 in the EFL Trophy on Wednesday night.

In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, Solskjaer made a comparison with Juventus centre-back Matthijs de Ligt but appreciates defenders are obviously stationed in a key area of the field, where any inexperience is likely to be punished.

“We always had that in the back of our minds, that our Academy will provide players and Teden has definitely impressed me,” said the manager.

“It’s different trusting defenders on the big stage, of course it is. You’ve got to make sure he’s ready for it, you see examples of Ajax, who play in a different league but Matthijs de Ligt, they made him captain when he was 18. You can see something special in them.

“Teden’s got something special in him. It’s about picking the right moment to give him a chance. Brandon Williams did exceptionally well last season, coming in as a defender.
“A defender or goalkeeper making a mistake might cost a team, a striker who misses a chance it’s like at least he was there to get the chance.

“Strikers can always win you a game with their enthusiasm, youthfulness, courage and no fear of failing. Defenders, you’ve got to make sure they’re ready because you can’t really know how they’ll react if they make a mistake.”

The 18-year-old spoke to MUTV after the win in Salford and said: “All in all, it was an out-and-out performance from the lads. It was a really good team performance and I am proud of everyone that was on the pitch today - from back to front.

“We, as defenders, get a real buzz off a clean sheet so we're happy as a unit but, as a team, we're happy with it and it puts us in a good position. This tournament is key for us, very key, because it's a really big tournament to play in, especially for us young lads, playing first-team sides. It was a brilliant win, especially against Salford, and real big for us as it was nice to beat them.

“It's a real honour to wear the armband. I wore it for the Under-18s and, this season, for the Under-23s. To step on the pitch and lead the boys is brilliant.”

Mengi played at left-back due to an injury in the warm-up to Lukasz Bejger, showing his versatility.

SOLSKJAER: WHAT VAN DE BEEK WILL ADD

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says the addition of Donny van de Beek should help boost the number of goals from his Manchester United squad.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, the boss explained why the Netherlands international is a perfect fit for the culture he’s trying to nurture at Old Trafford.

Solskjaer went on to give a hint as to how he wants Donny to integrate into his side – and finding the net is high up on the list of the manager’s wishes.

“When we signed Bruno Fernandes, we knew we needed that kind of player, now we've signed Donny and he's a type of player I felt we needed in the squad,” Ole said.

“He's the type of person that will fit the culture, fit the team and will improve us next season and for years to come.

“Donny is a versatile player; a very intelligent, clever player. He's got loads of energy, enthusiasm, [he’s] developing all the time.

“He scores goals and we need to add goals from midfield. Our forwards scored quite a few goals last season, Bruno came in and scored goals but we need goals throughout the squad because we didn't score enough to be challenging at the top.

“He’ll add his creativity, his reading of the game, his understanding of the game. He can see space and arrive at the right time. The timing of his movement is fantastic.”

Our new no.34 has been on Solskjaer’s radar for a while, having netted his first senior goal against the boss’s old club Molde in the Europa League five years ago.

Ole has become more and more familiar with van de Beek as a player since that game, although he revealed he also used his footballing network, including former United goalkeeper and current Ajax CEO Edwin van der Sar, particularly when it came to assessing the player''s character and suitability for life with the Reds.

“I’ve actually followed Donny!” added the boss. “His first goal, he scored against me, against Molde in the Europa League in 2015. We drew one each at the Amsterdam ArenA and he scored a fantastic header. He was brave!

“I’ve liked his infectious attitude, when you have a smile on your face, but you see players with that drive and desire.

“That’s one way [to judge a player]. You need to use your eye but, of course, I’ve spoken to Edwin and other players that know him.

“You just use the people you know and trust to scout that character as well.”

'I CAN SEE THEM BEING AT UNITED FOR MANY YEARS'

Manchester United’s in-form striking trio has given Andy Cole reason to set his hopes high ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.

Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood contributed 62 goals in all competitions between them last term to cement a place as one of Europe's most prolific front-threes.

And, with Martial the oldest of the three at 24, our Treble-winning former no.9 sees no reason why they can’t improve further and fire the Reds to glory this season – and in future years.

“They’re all young and energetic and have got good pace and can score goals,” Cole told us prior to Soccer Aid for Unicef on Sunday.

“I can see them being at Manchester United for many years and hopefully with those guys contributing more goals, and from wide areas, then hopefully, this season, we’ll be up there trying to win some silverware.”

Cole, of course, knows just what it takes to be a top Manchester United striker, having netted 121 goals in 275 games during his time at Old Trafford.

However, as well as being an ice-cold finisher in front of goal, Cole was also a selfless team player, combining well with his strike-partners – most notably Dwight Yorke, with the pair claiming 52 goals between them in 39 starts together during that memorable 1998/99 season.

That understanding is something embodied by our current sharpshooters, says Cole: “If you have the opportunity to score goals and contribute towards the team and help your team-mates out, then do it.

“Being at Manchester United, you’ve got to be a team player. It’s not all about you as an individual scoring as many goals as possible, you’ve all got to muck in.

“They [the relationships] are key. And those three look like they have a very good relationship off the pitch as well.

“On the pitch is where it counts. You touched on me and Dwight there - that came from the heavens that partnership.

“I enjoy watching the boys playing up front now, they all look like they enjoy it and they look like they’re very close-knit when they play together now which is great to see.”

DONNY'S FIRST DAY AT THE AON TRAINING COMPLEX

Donny van de Beek has enjoyed his first day as a Manchester United player at the Aon Training Complex, meeting Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his new colleagues.

The midfielder has had a whirlwind spell after completing his transfer from Ajax last week before competing in two UEFA Nations League matches with the Netherlands.

Following his involvement in the internationals with Poland and Italy, he has been able to link up with the Reds to prepare for the start of the 2020/21 Premier League season.

The midfielder was given an emotional send-off by Ajax supporters in Amsterdam and has left with the sincere best wishes from everybody associated with the Dutch club.

Now he is fully immersed in life in Manchester and took part in training on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old posed for a picture with Harry Maguire and took part in the session as the Reds look forward to welcoming all of our players back from international duty and beginning the countdown to the new campaign.

He chatted with the manager, who played a key role in pulling off the move, and clearly looked delighted to take in his new environment as he can concentrate fully on all things United.

The Dutchman could make his Premier League debut in our opening match of the season, against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on 19 September.

His last Eredivisie outing was back in March, against Heerenveen, which means he will have appreciated getting plenty of time on the pitch in the two Netherlands internationals.

RASHFORD WINS PFA AWARD

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has received the PFA Merit award for his contributions in helping fight child food poverty during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 22-year-old was presented with the special accolade at the Aon Training Complex after a year in which he successfully lobbied the UK government to provide free school meals for children over the summer holidays.

Marcus also recently announced the formation of a national food task force to recommend further policy changes and in June became the youngest-ever recipient of an honorary degree from The University of Manchester.

Rashford, who along with team-mate Mason Greenwood was also nominated for the PFA’s Young Player of the Year award, also enjoyed his best season yet on the pitch for United, scoring 22 goals in 44 games as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side finished third in the Premier League and reached three cup semi-finals.

Check out Marcus’s reaction to being recognised by his peers in the exclusive interview below…

How much of an honour is it to receive the PFA Merit award for 2020?
“It’s obviously a huge honour and I just hope it encourages and promotes other players to do things to help as much as they can. Of course I’m very happy and I’ll definitely continue to do my best to help people.”

When did you first have the idea to begin your work regarding child food poverty? Was there a particular moment?
“I was injured during lockdown and at the beginning I was working towards getting back with the team and stuff like that but there were conversations going on saying there might not be games until September. When I was sat at home I just needed something to work towards and a goal to achieve. So that was just something I spoke about with my brothers over the phone and the rest of my family. We just tried to find the best way to try and help people.”

You’ve done a great job – what do you feel is your biggest achievement so far?
“It’s been a long journey but I think the first phase was probably the hardest bit, learning and self-teaching who the right people to get in contact with to help these children were especially. We had the ideas but we didn’t know where to pitch them, or who to pitch them to, so that was probably the most difficult phase of everything really. That was right at the beginning of lockdown.”

And the campaign obviously continues. Do you hope to achieve more?
“What we’ve done so far is only a short-term answer and me and my team behind me are just trying to find plans on how we can help these children for the rest of their childhood really and long-term answers to the problem. At the moment we don’t have the answers but we’ll do our best to try and find them and progress the situation that they’re in the best way we can.”

We all think you’ve done a fantastic job but turning to football, how do you reflect on last season with Manchester United and England?
“It’s been a year that’s been quite difficult for me, with injuries and niggles and stuff that I’ve just had to deal with as and when the games come up. It’s been a tough season but also a season where I’ve matured a lot and it’s been a big year of learning for me. I’ve always said, as long as I’m learning and improving, I’m happy and hopefully next year we can continue to do that, but we need to add that little bit of getting over the line and winning trophies. Obviously [I got to] three semi-finals with United and we’ve not quite got over the line so it’s something that we need to definitely learn from. It’s a young group so I’m sure we’ll learn and improve and hopefully next season we can get some trophies.”

Finally, how excited are you for the new season?
“Yeah, I’m definitely excited. Like I mentioned before about last season, we missed out on those trophies but by very fine margins. Hopefully next year we can go that extra step. Trophies is what drives this club and it’s what’s important to all the players so it’s something we need to have in the future and I think the players understand that. I’m just looking forward to being involved in those games.”

EX-RED BROWN 'EXCITED FOR NEW START'

Wes Brown sees plenty of reasons to be optimistic ahead of the start of the 2020/21 Premier League season.

United’s campaign kicks off in 11 days, with a match against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford, just over a month after the conclusion of the elongated 2019/20 term.

Our former defender is looking forward to seeing how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men build on a positive year on the pitch so far, especially after last week’s addition of Donny van de Beek to an already talented midfield stable.

“I’m really excited. It’s a new start for us,” Wes told us prior to the Soccer Aid for Unicef match at Old Trafford on Sunday.

“We’ve brought in Donny, which is excellent, out of the blue as well. He’s a good age and it looks like he’ll fit in well with what Ole is trying to do with the players we already have. Hopefully, we'll get a couple more players in too.”

The Reds claimed more points than any Premier League side other than Manchester City (who played a game more) after Project Restart, overhauling a significant deficit to overtake Chelsea and Leicester City and claim a prized Champions League place.

Fourteen games in 58 days across the league, Emirates FA Cup and Europa League stretched Solskjaer’s side to the limit, but Wes thinks the lads should be well rested and looking to get off to a strong start next weekend.

“After lockdown, we came back excellently, we were very strong in most departments. There were a lot of games to jam in and people got tired but the lads did well.

“The end of the season was disappointing, in the fact that we got to two semis and didn’t get through, but I still think we’re moving forward. And the experiences from those two semis will help the players this season.

“I want us to have a good start, the lads have had a little bit of a rest, but we have to start strongly and throw down benchmarks early on.”

One regret from 2019/20 was finishing up without any silverware, with those semi-final defeats to Chelsea in the FA Cup and Sevilla in the Europa League still smarting.

United’s players should, however, take inspiration from the two disappointments and use them to improve when faced with similar situations next time around, according to Wes.

“Those defeats gave you a bit of a boost because, when you come to play those teams again and you’re walking out for the warm-up, you remember that maybe you got beat 2-0 the season before and how much they celebrated and that gives you a little bit more determination.

“The lads will remember those defeats and they’ll be trying to make it right this season.”

MU FOUNDATION TAKE PART IN 'REMEMBER A CHARITY WEEK'

Manchester United Foundation is one of over 200 charities taking part in ‘Remember A Charity Week’ around the UK. The Foundation is urging our supporters to pass on something wonderful by leaving a gift in your will, after you’ve taken care of friends and family.

Manchester United has a history built on legacies and the Foundation uses the passion for the club and its ethos of self-belief, belonging and youth development, to engage those who need our help.

It is encouraging fans that, by leaving a gift in your will, you could leave your own legacy by helping the Foundation to continue supporting the young people of Greater Manchester.

Nick Gilbert, Director of Development for Manchester United Foundation, said: “We are delighted to be part of this year’s ‘Remember A Charity Week’, encouraging our supporters to pass on their own legacy to the next generation of Foundation participants.

“Donations are crucial to our charity’s work, both now and long into the future. Gifts left in wills could help us to make a huge difference to young people in our local community for years to come.”

Former Strictly Come Dancing head judge and professional ballroom dancer, Len Goodman is leading the support of this year’s ‘Remember A Charity Week’ (7–13 September 2020).

Len commented: “This is my third year supporting ‘Remember A Charity Week’ and I’ve had the chance to meet some of the fantastic people working hard for charitable causes.

“I’ve included a charitable gift in my will after my family has been taken care of – it’s such a simple, easy thing to do that makes an enormous difference. Hopefully this week will inspire more people to do the same – just think what we could achieve if we all made that small change to our will!”

Rob Cope, Director of Remember A Charity, added: “‘Remember A Charity Week' has grown year-on-year and I’m immensely proud that the 200-strong consortium is coming together to celebrate in these challenging times.

“This week offers a fantastic opportunity for charities to inspire their supporters to consider a cause they care deeply about in their will and raise awareness of how this contributes to their vital work. Without this income, many charities simply would not exist and others would be forced to cut the crucial services so many of us rely on.”

For more information about supporting Manchester United Foundation in your will please visit mufoundation.org/legacy or email legacy@mufoundation.org

MASON GREENWOOD ISSUES APOLOGY

Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood has issued the following statement...

“Having now had the chance to reflect on what’s happened, I can only apologise to everyone for the embarrassment I have caused.

“It was irresponsible of me to break the COVID-19 protocols which are in place to protect players, staff and the public.

“In particular, I want to apologise to Gareth Southgate, for letting him down, when he had shown great trust in me.

“Playing for England was one of the proudest moments in my life and I only have myself to blame for this huge mistake.

“I promise my family, the fans, Manchester United and England that this is a lesson I will learn from.”

REVEALED: UNITED'S NEW ADIDAS THIRD KIT FOR 2020/21

adidas and Manchester United today present the new 2020/21 season third kit, introducing a visually distinctive design, inspired by striped jerseys from the club’s history.

From United’s first striped kit over 100 years ago, to the eye-catching designs of the 1970s and 80s, the latest release aims to provide a fresh update to tradition, while delivering a vibrant new print.

To create this new design, adidas re-drew, hacked and re-imagined combined elements from various jerseys throughout the club’s long history to create a bold new pattern. Utilising United’s iconic club colours of red, white and black, the kit is an original story with a modern update.

The result is surprising, unexpected and demonstrates a continued ambition to push the boundaries of shirt design.

The release of the new third shirt follows the launches of the new home kit, which celebrates the club’s DNA with an imprint of “MANCHESTER UNITED” running through the shirt, and an away jersey which pays homage to the club’s famous travelling away support.

Manchester United’s relationship with all-over stripes goes back to the team’s first year at its home in Old Trafford, when the team wore a classic blue-and-white striped shirt as the alternative kit. The collar on this new jersey features a ‘110 years of stripes’ sign-off, signifying the history of the club’s jerseys.

Most memorably, adidas brought disruptive jersey graphics into the world of football at the end of the 1980s, causing a visual revolution in shirt design. It is these graphics, and the spirit of bringing a new approach and innovation to the field, that inspired the design of the 2020/21 third kit launched today.

While the team will take to the field wearing the jersey with accompanying white shorts and white socks, there will also be shorts and socks with the same pattern as the shirt, available for fans to buy.

The kit is available today exclusively at adidas.com/football, adidas stores, and official club stores including online at United Direct.

A wider release with select retailers will be available from 15 September 2020.