Andreas Pereira Faces Uphill Struggle to Get into Manchester United Team

Andreas Pereira finally got his first-team start for Manchester United and grabbed the opportunity with both hands. He was important to the team's eventually comfortable 3-0 win over Ipswich Town, scoring a wonderful free-kick but also contributing industry and imagination to United's left flank.

The 19-year-old worked hard for the team—indeed it was his tracking back which allowed United to win back the ball for the counter-attack which led to the third goal.

Scott Patterson of ESPN FC, wrote of Pereira's display, "Even before his goal, the young Brazilian put in an impressive shift for United. He ran at the defence, showed off his fantastic long range passing ability and left the Ipswich players bemused with his quick feet and change in direction." 

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Given Memphis Depay's difficult start to domestic football with United, Pereira should have a route into the first team. However, there have been signs that the 21-year-old Dutchman is getting to grips with his new environment.

Against Southampton on Sunday, he looked as if he was releasing the ball a little earlier and picking his moments to take on an opponent a little more carefully. He was unlucky not to score when he hit the post in the build-up to Juan Mata's goal.

And Memphis is not the only player Louis van Gaal believes Pereira will have to overcome to get into his first-choice side.

The Old Trafford manager was asked about the Brazil international at his post-game press conference and said, per the National: 

"

He had a big participation in that game. He shoots the free-kick in a fantastic way. He’s training on that so that’s why he may take the free-kick. I’m a happy coach.

He can play on 7, 10 or 11. That is the right wing, left wing and 10. His competitors are [Ashley] Young, Memphis Depay, Mata, [Ander] Herrera, [Marouane] Fellaini, [Wayne] Rooney and [Jesse] Lingard. A lot of players.

"

The not-so-subtle message to Pereira seems clear—a good performance, but it is not yet time to get carried away.

Per Goal.com, Van Gaal said of Pereira and Jesse Lingard, "That's the reason why I keep these players: so I don’t have to keep many players because I have multi-functional players in Lingard and Pereira. But they can play if their level remains high."

Throughout Van Gaal's career he has been a proponent of the old adage, "If you are good enough, you are old enough." His era-defining Ajax side of the 1990s won the Champions League in 1995 with an 18-year-old Patrick Kluivert scoring the winner.

This trait continued all the way through to the 2014 World Cup where he included Memphis, then 20, in the Netherlands squad and gave him game time. The early success of 19-year-old Anthony Martial at United shows that youth has not become an obstacle to a place in the manager's plans.

However, cameo appearances from Paddy McNair aside, it has not been a good season so far in terms of chances for players who came through United's own youth system.

With Adnan Januzaj sent on loan to Borussia Dortmund after failing to convince Van Gaal during his outings at No. 10, it will be incumbent on Lingard (22), Pereira and 19-year-old James Wilson to represent the club's own youth system.

The League Cup proved fruitful for Pereira, as it has done for so many youngsters in United's history. However, Van Gaal played a very strong side, perhaps mindful of avoiding a repeat of last season's defeat at MK Dons.

That speaks to the limited opportunities on offer for United's current crop of youngsters. Pereira's full debut was impressive, but he nonetheless faces an uphill struggle to break into regular contention for a starting berth.

However, the teenager has shown himself to be an able and talented member of the squad, with the ability to perform under the Old Trafford spotlight.

With patience, there could certainly be an important place for him in United's future.