FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD JJ Gabriel made his Manchester United debut in Stockholm.
It might only have been for the final eight minutes of United’s 2-1 comeback victory over Atletico Madrid, but it was the first opportunity to see how one of the most talked about young players in academy football dealt with the transition to seniors.
Predictably, his first touch was followed almost instantly by a thudding challenge into his back from Atletico’s Uruguay international Jose Maria Gimenez that sent him sprawling.
Gabriel briefly felt the affected area but then leaped to his feet and carried on.
While space in central positions was limited, he found more space when he switched from the number 10 slot to the right side.
There was an element of nerves as he miscontrolled Mason Mount’s precise pass on a couple of occasions, with the ball sticking to his feet before he cut inside and had a shot blocked.
Then Gabriel had a neat passing exchange with Leny Yoro before he was bundled over in the box by a clearly heavier opponent.
Gabriel has shown in age group football he is capable of much more, but bearing in mind most children his age are enjoying their summer holidays before beginning their GCSE year at school, it was a moment to be proud of.
“He’s a really good player,” said Yoro. “He is still really young and still has a lot to learn and a lot to improve on but he’s really humble and still working, so I’m happy for him to get his first minutes. I hope, for him, it’s going to continue like that.”
Yoro was only 16 years and six months when he made his debut for Lille in 2022, so he knows what the transition to senior football is like.
“I can see myself,” he said.
“I hope he’s going to learn a lot and continue like that. He’s a really good player.”
Amad Diallo’s return from World Cup duty brings with it a significant degree of expectation.
While Ivory Coast did not perform brilliantly in the United States, going out in the last 32, Amad impressed with his two goals.
That was as many as the 24-year-old managed all season for the Old Trafford outfit. Add in his three-goal haul at the Africa Cup of Nations and Amad’s form at international level was significantly better than for his club.
Indeed, until the final day of the campaign at Brighton, he didn’t even manage an assist for United from the point at which he left for Afcon in December.
There were not many players at the club whose form dipped after Ruben Amorim was axed, but Amad was one of them.
A contributory factor in the change in formation.
The wing-back position highlights defensive work – and Amad is good at that, as he showed against Atletico.
Starting on the right of a three-man attack, Amad’s first two dribbles were towards his own goal after nipping in to win possession, and he did it again before half-time when he was replaced.
Amad also inadvertently played a significant role in United going behind, when he tried a little trick in flicking a pass back to Leny Yoro, playing his team-mate into trouble.
The unintended consequence was the free-kick Yoro conceded trying to deal with a difficult situation, the corner that followed and then a goal as Arnau Ortiz floated a cross from the left side of United’s penalty area, which beat everyone and ended up in the far corner.
Amad was a threat at the other end though.
His low free-kick was saved with his legs by veteran Atletico keeper Jan Oblak after it had taken a deflection as it passed through the wall.
United failed to make the most of Amad’s close control as he took down a steepling cross inside the penalty and also when he showed calmness and vision to release Yoro on the overlap.
It was Amad’s industry that allowed United to win possession just outside the Atletico Madrid penalty area and start the move that ended with the excellent Lacey crossing for Mbeumo to head wide.
As a first appearance of pre-season, it was perfectly acceptable. But Amad will know his levels will need to improve on last term.