Even when the squad list was announced, it was blatantly clear that Leeds United weren’t taking this Australia tour seriously.
They travelled with just 16 players, a number that is two less than a match-day squad in the Sky Bet Championship. In contrast, today’s opponents Manchester United were able to field a completely different XI for the second half of today’s game in Perth.
So, in essence, that different approach to the game can partially excuse the final scoreline – an easy 4-0 win to the Red Devil’s. Added to that, the gulf in class of the players was there and plain for all to see.
Whereas Manchester United were able to bring Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard on in the second half, Leeds’ changes were players such as Mateusz Bogusz and Bryce Hosannah. Men against boys is the phrase that springs to mind – that’s what it was here.
It was a very thorough performance from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side whose class and Premier League status saw them put Leeds to the sword time and time again. Two goals to the good at half time through Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford, they doubled that advantage in the second half with further goals through Phil Jones and Anthony Martial.
The result itself doesn’t really matter, Manchester United beat a Leeds United side easily and it was a side that wasn’t really focused on the tour in terms of the personnel that were chosen. However, one thing that the game did show up was the weaknesses that Leeds United might want to work on before opening their 2019/20 Sky Bet Championship campaign against Bristol City in just over two weeks.
Defensively, the Whites were poor and that is even allowing for a makeshift backline. It is safe to say that Leeds will not be operating with Liam Cooper and Gaetano Berardi as a first-choice pairing at the back. There wasn’t any stability or cohesion and that is worrying.
Added to this, with first-choice strikers Patrick Bamford and Kemar Roofe playing up front, there wasn’t too much of a goal threat. It could be argued that the Whites didn’t have their first-choice midfield pulling the strings and loading the guns for Leeds’ striking pair. That will easily be rectified with players like Mateusz Klich and Helder Costa drafted into the side.
