AIK Fotboll vs. Manchester United: 5 Things We Learned

Manchester United clashed with AIK Fotboll at the Friends Arena in Stockholm in a preseason friendly on Tuesday night.

The match finished one apiece, with Angelo Henriquez’s late equaliser sparing United’s blushes following Robin Quaison’s opener soon after half-time.

While this, like the majority of preseason contests, was a low-key affair played at a relaxed pace, there were still a few snippets of important information and a few vital clues as to how the David Moyes era is unfolding in Manchester.

Read on to discover that there is still a lot going on at Old Trafford—beyond a certain Wayne Rooney.

Viva La Vida

In news which will delight United fans, Nemanja Vidic managed to complete 90 minutes in Stockholm.

The Serbian still has a huge role to play at Old Trafford, but only if he is fit. Over the last few seasons, his playing time has been eroded by a number of injuries—some serious, some not so serious—leading to numerous absences.

It was a pleasure to see him back in action, wearing the captain’s armband and roaring at those around him.

While his mental faculties may be as sharp as ever, it is natural to expect that it will take time before Vidic can possibly begin to approach his peak. Even if those days are permanently behind him, this evidence suggests David Moyes still sees a role for the Serbian stopper.

Replacements Waiting in the Wings

While Wayne Rooney has been the key story both before and after this clash, the cameo of Angelo Henriquez suggests that able replacements may not be far off.

The Chilean forward arrived at Old Trafford to much fanfare, but has struggled to make an impact—not least because of the profusion of quality forwards already in the squad. A loan spell at Wigan was meant to get him vital experience with the English game, but here too, he failed to assert himself.

Still only 19, Henriquez’s key contributions will surely come in the future. His performance in Stockholm however, complete with invaluable equaliser, has shown that there could well be talking about a player who has the raw materials to one day make a major name for himself in the sport.

Hairdryer Unplugged?

As has been noted by The Guardian, Manchester United have been “below-par” thus far in their preseason contests.

Obviously there is only so much that ought to be read into results and performances in games that evidently do not have the same tenacity and focus as regular league fixtures, particularly when managers are so prone to experiment and trial various options. Beyond that, it is important to remember that this squad are adapting to a new boss who is, himself, tailoring his approach to them.

Perhaps it is natural that the Red Devils haven’t hit the ground running.

Even so, two wins in five preseason fixtures is not a record that will encourage the incoming manager nor the expectant fanbase. A killer edge and a defensive discipline ought to be present regardless of the pace of the fixture, yet United have appeared lethargic thus far.

Even after an unimpressive first half in Stockholm against AIK, it was the home side, rather than United, who burst out of the blocks after the break and scored the opener.

Maybe Moyes should take a leaf out of his predecessor’s book and take the opportunities to not-too-gently remind his players what is expected of them.

Bebe on Board

With only one week to go until his team take on Wigan in the Community Shield matchup between the league and cup holders, the time is approaching when Moyes will need to assess his squad and begin to decide who his key players are to be over the upcoming 12 months.

The inclusion of Nani and Wilfried Zaha for this friendly could perhaps be interpreted as fairly telling. At times over the last few months, the former appeared to be on his way out of Manchester, with Arsenal linked to his signature. However, perhaps his appearance in Stockholm suggests that Moyes envisages a role for him this season.

So too Zaha. Some had suspected that the England international would be loaned out this term, as he acclimatises to Premier League action. However, after being used to good effect during the preseason, don’t be surprised to see ‘Wilf’ included in Moyes’s plans sooner rather than later.

And so what of Bebe?

The bizarre circumstances and unlikely reality of his move to Manchester have never quite been forgotten, with his anonymous outings seeming to suggest that his transfer will forever be remembered as one of football’s famous faux pas.

However, he joined the squad on their trip to Stockholm and is yet to agree a deal to depart the club—despite persistent rumours linking him with a move back to Portugal.

Could it be that one of football’s greatest enigmas has found favour with the new boss?

Don’t hold your breath!

Wayne Rooney & Empire Building

Animosity can sometimes be the perfect thing to unite a dressing room. Just ask Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese manager excels at identifying an enemy, be it external, or domestic and then imbuing a team with a siege mentality.

This can bind disparate troops and unify a collective towards a common goal.

At the moment, the Rooney saga feels like the narrative that is undermining the club from the inside. It has overshadowed much of David Moyes’s early tenure at the club and is threatening even to overshadow Rio Ferdinand's upcoming testimonial.

But could Moyes take inspiration from Mourinho and use the belligerent Rooney as an enemy in opposition to whom United could unite?

Offloading the divisive talent could be the ideal way—if not the only way—of escaping the malaise that is threatening to envelop the club and stepping forward into this exciting new era.

Legacies are built on tough decisions and rather than treating the Rooney debacle as an undermining complication, it could be the building block upon which the future Old Trafford Empire is constructed.