Manchester United vs. Sevilla: 5 Things We Learned

Manchester United fell 3-1 to Sevilla in Rio Ferdinand's Testimonial match Friday.

The result is another underwhelming one where the Red Devils are concerned, but this was, after all, a glorified friendly.

Antonio Valencia was the sole goalscorer for the home side on a night when youngsters Adnan Januzaj and Angelo Henriquez earned starts.

Here are five things we learned from Rio's emotional night.

Should We Be Worried?

The Red Devils' preseason form has not given fans of the club much reason for optimism.

Sevilla are the third team to beat David Moyes's side this summer, the other two being the Singha All-Star XI and Yokohama F-Marinos.

This is no time to start panicking if you are the Scotsman, but there are genuine concerns that need to be addressed before the season kicks off proper.

The team looked unmotivated and devoid of imagination Friday. A mid-table La Liga side easily got the better of the Premier League champions.

A poor preseason can often have little effect on a team's season, but if Moyes wanted to hit the ground running, he has so far failed.

New Signing Needed More Than Ever

It was not just a lack of motivation that cost United against Sevilla; it was, with a few exceptions, a lack of imagination across the pitch.

Put simply, the Red Devils looked stale in David Moyes' Old Trafford bow.

For all of United's domestic dominance last term, even the best clubs in the world need to re-invest in new players to prevent complacency from creeping in.

One can fully appreciate Sir Alex Ferguson's genius in leading the team to Premier League glory, considering the gaping holes in his midfield.

United have no deeper-lying central midfielders capable of striking fear into the opposition. For all his understated excellence, Michael Carrick is included in this.

Adnan Januzaj Is for Real

Forgetting the mixed bag of results for a second, hasn't it been invigorating to witness the emergence of Adnan Januzaj this summer?

There has been talk of the Belgian playmaker being a potential great before, but to see him impress for the first team is still a relief.

Against Sevilla, he was arguably the Red Devils' most consistent attacking threat.

He and fellow youngster Wilfried Zaha brought a rare sense of danger to the game for the home side. They tried their hardest to make the game worth watching for the home fans.

It is not yet clear how much of a role Januzaj will play next season, but he has stood out and given Moyes cause for thought where others have simply blended into the background.

Time Up for Cleverley and Anderson?

There was a brief period of time when Tom Cleverley and Anderson were considered the central midfield partnership to lead the Red Devils going forward.

Watching them play Friday, this notion now seems fantastical.

Cleverley was impressive in bursts last season, but he faded as the campaign wore on. Anderson never really got going, as has been the case throughout his entire Old Trafford career.

Helped by the fact he is an English lad, the former will still be given opportunities under Moyes. The Brazilian, however, should consider himself very lucky indeed if he is still in Manchester come the end of August.

Either way, do not expect to see them partnered up in midfield in big games any time soon.

Rio the Legend

Again, forget the result—Friday's game should have only really been about one man: Rio Ferdinand.

The centre-back has played for Manchester United for 11 years and claimed a vast array of silverware.

From some shaky early days, he has developed into one of the most reliable defenders in the game. He is a calm, classy player whose partnership with Nemanja Vidic has proven one of the Red Devils' greatest.

He is also one of the most positive influences in the dressing room and behind the scenes.

At 34, he may not have much time left at the top, but for all the wealth of young talent United have in his position, Rio should be first choice come kickoff on the opening day of the season.

What did you learn from the 3-1 defeat to Sevilla?