Manchester United suffered a blow during their friendly against Real Betis in San Diego, California, as two key players, Marcus Rashford and Antony, were forced off due to injuries. Rashford, who scored a first-half penalty in a 3-2 victory for United, had to be substituted in the second half after sustaining a heavy knock to his right ankle. On the other hand, Antony only managed 23 minutes on the pitch before being replaced. These injuries add to the existing concerns for manager Erik ten Hag, who is already without Leny Yoro and Rasmus Hojlund. Yoro is facing a three-month layoff due to a foot injury, while Hojlund is expected to miss six weeks with a hamstring issue.
The absence of both Hojlund and Rashford would leave Ten Hag with limited options in the attacking department, with new signing Joshua Zirkzee as the only recognized centre-forward for the upcoming Premier League season opener against Fulham on Aug. 16. Zirkzee, who was not part of the U.S. tour due to his participation in the European Championship, has since returned to training at Carrington. The mounting injury concerns come as a major frustration for Ten Hag, despite some positive performances from the team during the friendly in San Diego.
Manchester United had to come from behind to secure the victory against Real Betis after going a goal down early in the game. Iker Losada opened the scoring for Betis after a mix-up in the United defense, but Marcus Rashford equalized from the penalty spot shortly after. Amad then put United ahead with a well-taken finish before setting up Casemiro for another goal before halftime. Despite Betis pulling a goal back in the second half, United managed to hold on for the win.
As Manchester United wrap up their U.S. tour with a final game against Liverpool in South Carolina, manager Erik ten Hag will be hoping for positive news on the injury front. The performances of young talents like Amad and Harry Amass provide some encouragement, but the fitness of key players like Rashford and Antony remains a significant concern. The team will need to regroup and focus on getting key players back to full fitness ahead of the new season.