Manchester United vs. San Jose: 2nd Half Hints at Challenge Ahead for United

The Manchester United vs. San Jose Earthquakes International Champions Cup clash on Tuesday night saw the Red Devils run out comfortable 3-1 winners. However, the second half was considerably less comfortable than the first.

Speaking after the game, Louis van Gaal was unimpressed, as reported by Sky Sports: 

"

The second half I thought we played very bad—a lot of ball losses, very unnecessary. The only highlight was the goal from Pereira.

We didn't give many chances away but we gave possibilities away. It was a threat always and that was not necessary.

"

He directed specific criticism at one of the new boys. When asked about Bastian Schweinsteiger's subpar performance he said, "He was also bad." This, of course, made headlines, although Van Gaal's actual words were pretty reasoned:

"

Players can play bad, certainly when you have only three days or six days training session in your legs and you have to play 45 minutes.

Everybody can think it is easy to step in but it is not easy. I thought the first match [Schweinsteiger] played very well and now he played bad but that is also a process.

"

Eric Risberg/Associated Press

"Process" is, of course, a key word in Van Gaal's repertoire. At this stage of pre-season, though, it is particularly apt. United have played an entirely different XI in each half of their first two ICC games—barring Sam Johnstone, who got 90 minutes in goal against the 'Quakes.

Building match rhythm for as many of the squad as possible is the order of the day.

However, in the second half against the 'Quakes, a familiar problem reared its ugly head: San Jose defended very deep, in numbers, and United struggled to make the breakthrough.

Partly, as Van Gaal intimated, this was down to some poor passing and the fact that, in the manager's words, "Our positions in midfield were not so good as in the first half."

However, it was hardly a new problem. The last part of United's season was dominated by their struggles against teams who, to use the vernacular, parked the bus against them.

Chelsea, West Bromwich Albion and, to a lesser extent, Everton managed to frustrate Van Gaal's men. It had happened earlier in the season, too, when Crystal Palace visited Old Trafford and United were reduced to mostly insipid and flat possession.

As Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans exchanged passes on Tuesday night, it felt eerily familiar.

Indeed, in some ways, it is a significant positive that the side managed to conjure up one moment of excellent attacking play and get the breakthrough. Ander Herrera and Jesse Lingard linked well, as Andreas Pereira did his first-team chances no harm with a well-timed header. After all, that kind of execution is what is required to get through difficult defences.

And, of course, United were far from at full strength by that point in the match. Of the XI who started the second half, it seems likely that only Smalling, Herrera and Schweinsteiger will be in Van Gaal's selection when the Premier League season starts.

The point remains, though, that breaking down resilient, defensive-minded teams is going to be important next season. More teams will come to Old Trafford prepared to defend for their lives, having seen how effective the strategy has been in nullifying United's threat.

Tomas Ovalle/Associated Press

The squad looks better-placed to do so, though. Even if Angel Di Maria does leave—as seems likely, per Ed Malyon in the Mirror—United still have plenty of talent on the books. There are plenty of players in Van Gaal's squad who have the tools to unlock stubborn defences. There is also a more solid platform of central midfielders upon which to build.

For players like Lingard, Pereira and Adnan Januzaj, the second half against San Jose was a fine preparation for some of the teams they will come up against later this season.

Finding a way past a parked bus will be crucial to United's success in 2015/16.

Bleacher Report is Official Media Partner of the International Champions Cup North America.