David de Gea’s future at Manchester United continues to be clouded in uncertainty after the goalkeeper was ruled out of the club’s second pre-season match of their U.S. tour with an unknown injury.
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Manchester United hadn’t played in Northern California since May 1970.
That made it 3-1 at the Avaya Stadium, built in the shadow of San Jose global Airport at the foot of the Santa Cruz mountains.
Before the match, Van Gaal could be seen chatting with former Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson.
The Earthquakes pulled a goal back through Alashe in the 42nd minute.
The Quakes, seeking their first win in July, fielded a strong starting lineup, which included spark plug Cordell Cato, who just returned from the Gold Cup after Trinidad & Tobago’s defeat in penalty kicks against Panama in the quarterfinals. Sunday’s league match at the Vancouver Whitecaps will be San Jose’s fourth game in 12 days.
Three minutes before half-time the MLS side halved the deficit through Fatai Alashe, who converted at the near post after Shea Salinas beat Morgan Schneiderlin on the right side of the United penalty area.
Schneiderlin has proved himself one of the most accomplished young midfielders in the Premier League in recent seasons, but Van Gaal will not accept him switching off as lamely as he did on that occasion.
Every tour game will be shown live on MUTV/MUTV HD.
Despite picking up a win against Club America at CenturyLink Field last week, Manchester United wasn’t as crisp as the boss wanted, but Van Gaal is confident his side will get better as the season proceeds.
The name Earthquakes was created by general manager Dick Berg, but was criticized due to San Jose’s proximity to the San Andreas Fault. Van Gaal is going to have a head ache trying to pick his midfield this season with so many quality options. The battle for reserve keeper is the first of what is expected to be several selection dilemmas this term for Van Gaal. But newcomer Bastian Schweinsteiger, a German World Cup champion and Champions League victor with Bayern Munich, came on in the second half.
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Sam Johnstone, who has never made a professional appearance for United, will make his second start of the tour to strengthen his position ahead of Anders Lindegaard.
