The absence of key Manchester United stars is said to have resulted in half-full stadiums for their first two tour games.
Two games into United’s pre-season tour and the locals have got it sussed.
No Pogba, De Gea, Lukaku, Lingard, Rashford… Jones and, em, Fellaini. No sell-outs. Dire football. No thanks.
United began their pre-season tour of the United States on July 21 with a 1-1 draw against Mexican side Club America.
The clash, which took place at the University of Phoenix Stadium, saw Juan Mata spare the Red Devils’ blushes with a late equaliser, after Club America had taken the lead through a header from Henry Martin.
It was a day when a number of United’s younger players were given the opportunity to stake their claim for regular appearances as the season goes on, with the likes of Tahith Chong and Mason Greenwood both making their first team debuts.
However, it was the absence of several of United’s truly box office names which resulted in just 37,766 supporters turning up to watch the match at the 63,000-capacity venue.
Attendance for tonight’s @ClubAmerica_EN vs @ManUtd game @UOPXStadium
37,766 pic.twitter.com/Nqxz5d7qJj
— Wiso Vazquez (@WisoVazquez) July 20, 2018
A host United’s stars remain on extended leave following their appearances at the World Cup, meaning that players such as Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, David de Gea, Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku were not part of the squad.
Those absences appear to have convinced enough supporters to stay away from the match, which ended up being a drab affair at the best of times.
It was the same again at the Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Sunday. United drew 0-0 with San Jose Earthquake and only 32,549 showed up in the 68,000-seat stadium.
Those that missed out didn’t miss out on much. Alexis Sanchez was said to have been lively, Timothy Fosu Mensah cleared a shot off the line and Lee Grant was good in the United goal. That was about that.
Poor crowd for the second game of Man Utd’s US tour, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara #MUFC @MirrorFootball pic.twitter.com/AQzAmeAqZ0
— David McDonnell (@DiscoMirror) July 22, 2018
Some mock the Americans for their current choice of president but maybe they are not so gullible and willing after all. There was a full slate of MLS fixtures at the weekend but perhaps these fans have watched United play under Jose Mourinho more than once.
Despite the disappointing crowd, it’s not all doom and gloom, with United’s match against Liverpool at the 107,000-capacity Big House in Michigan expected to break the record for a football match attendance in the US.
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