I'm not sure what most of you expected from mostly our second choice side against Real Madrid's first eleven.
We were without Kompany, Zabaleta, Mangala, Fernandinho, Delph (0-0 when he came off), Aguero and Bony. Possibly Pogba and De Bruyne coming in aswell, that's nearly a whole new team.
I'll try and take the positives from the game. I thought up until Delph got injured, we were playing well. I liked the shape, 4-3-3, with a nicely balance centre midfield. Fernando protecting the back four, Delph's energy and pressing with Yaya's passing and drive from midfield. There were some real good signs and I look forward to seeing that midfield trio again.
Sterling was so dangerous, looked a threat every time he got on the ball. Probably our best player today. Silva was good as always, some great link-up play. Yaya didn't look 100%, but it's still pre-season, no big deal.
Denayer got a little bit of a reality check and was shown just how hard it's going to be to make it here. I still think Denayer will become a top CB for us, and will play quite a lot of games this season, but it shows the importance of easing young players in, rather than throwing them in like some on here seem to want. Left back was a bit of a disaster really. Kolarov had a shocker in the first half IMO and Clichy wasn't much better for the fourth goal. It stressed the importance of us getting a top LB in this summer, I think it'll make a big difference in the Champion's League.
Dzeko coming on and showing absolutely no interest wasn't good to watch. It looks like he's gone, which asks the question; why did he come on? Would it not have been better to give Iheanacho a chance down the middle? Dzeko's attitude and workrate was pretty shocking and I can't see how anybody would think that's acceptable.
I don't think we performed badly given the circumstances, it wasn't really a 4-1 game. There was definitely positives to take from the game and also it showed us areas where we need to improve.
