Manchester United are preparing for the team’s first pre-season game of 2025. It could feature one player who began the campaign back in 2015.
A lot has changed in 10 years at Manchester United, and not necessarily for the better. The Red Devils are even further removed from Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, and further away from challenging for the title than ever before in recent memory.
Entering the 2015 season, Louis van Gaal was beginning the season with some momentum. The Dutchman had led the Red Devils to a fourth placed finish in the Premier League in his opening 2014/15 campaign, qualifying for the Champions League.
2015/16 ended up being a big disappointment as United could only finish fifth, but entering the season, there was hope the team could start to really fire.
Louis van Gaal had put his stamp on the team by 2015, with the Red Devils kicking off their pre-season campaign against Mexican side Club America,
How Manchester United took on Club America
Manchester United began the 2015 pre-season with a match held in the US city of Seattle, taking on Club America on July 17.
The XI selected by Louis van Gaal was mixed with some of his signings, and players who he inherited from Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes.
The starting line-up: Sam Johnstone; Matteo Darmian, Daley Blind, Phil Jones, Luke Shaw, Morgan Schneiderlin, Michael Carrick, Ashley Young, Memphis Depay, Wayne Rooney.
Morgan Schneiderlin scored the winning goal in the fifth minute, with Louis van Gaal’s side holding on to kick off pre-season with a 1-0 victory.
The notable name in the line-up is left-back Luke Shaw, who is the only remaining member of the squad still representing Manchester United.
Shaw could even be in line to start for United in the first pre-season game in 2025 under new head coach Ruben Amorim.
Entering a World Cup year, Shaw has sparked positive reactions from United fans after the way he has returned to pre-season in 2025 appearing to be in the best shape of his life.
Cruel fortune awaited Shaw back in 2015, he would go on to suffer a career-threatening leg injury weeks after this pre-season game, in the Champions League against PSV. It is a mini-miracle he is still going 10 years later.
The Manchester United substitutes
Louis Van Gaal used a full cast of substitutes during the game, while keeping David de Gea, Javier Hernandez, Antonio Valencia and Marouane Fellaini as unused players.
During the second half, Van Gaal called on Anders Lindegaard, Paddy McNair, Tyler Blackett, Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans, Andreas Pereira, Ander Herrera, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Jesse Lingard, and James Wilson.
It was a talented mix of players, but some did not last the summer. Jonny Evans and unused substitute Javier Hernandez were both sold before the end of the window, along with Angel di Maria, who did not even fly out to the US. United ended the summer by signing Anthony Martial.
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