By Victor Kanayo
Manchester United have lost a mid World Cup friendly match against a lowly La Liga club Cadiz.
It was an encounter that ended 4-2 in favour of the Spanish club side.
United boss Erik ten Hag opted to take a whole host of first-team players that didn’t head off to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup to Spain in order to keep them sharp before the Premier League returns.
Anthony Martial, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Alejandro Garnacho, Donny van de Beek, Martin Dubravka, Victor Lindelof and Scott McTominay were some of the stars handed an opportunity in the match.
United were 2-0 down in the early stages of the contest as Carlos Garcia-Die Sanchez and Anthony Lozano both found the back of the net.
Frenchman Martial pulled one back from the penalty spot before Kobbie Mainoo levelled the score just after half-time, although it was short lived as Cadiz struck twice more to seal a comfortable victory.
After the encounter, Caoch ten Hag was dissatisfied with his side’s “unacceptable” performance.
“It is quite clear, we were not awake and still sleeping in the first 15 minutes.
“We prepared them. [We knew] They are a threat in transition and we have seen the second goal. It can’t happen.
“You are not awake. Especially in the midfield, we got run off, this is not possible. Unacceptable.
“The first goal was as well. A set-play, bad organisation and bad discipline in the organisation, and you concede a goal,” Ten Hag told MUTV after the friendly.
United will now face Real Betis in another friendly on Saturday before they return to competitive action in the Carabao Cup against Championship side Burnley on Wednesday, December 21, just three days after the World Cup final.
The Red Devils play Nottingham Forest in their first Premier League outing since the World Cup break on December 27.
