Andreas Pereira has opened up about some of the top performers within the Manchester United squad, with one of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s summer signings taking the plaudits.
Solskjaer’s aim for United’s attack is clear: break at pace. It is no secret that Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez did not fit the manager’s gameplan, with Dan James quickly becoming a key figure for the Red Devils since signing from Swansea City this summer.
Pereira believes that James is the fastest sprinter in the United squad, telling the club’s website: “It is Dan James, for sure!
“He is so explosive and so fast.
“When you think about having to run to the ball, he’s very fast to it.”
However, the statistics show otherwise, with Marcus Rashford performing seven of United’s 12 fastest sprints recorded by Opta so far this season – with James making the other five.
Speed in km/h
Chelsea = James 33.5
Wolves = Rashford 33.3
Palace = Rashford 36.3
Southampton = James 34.2
Leicester = James 35.0
West Ham = James 33.8
Arsenal = Rashford 35.5
Newcastle = James 34.0
Liverpool = Rashford 33.3
Norwich = Rashford 33.7
Bournemouth = Rashford 33.6
Brighton = Rashford 36.15
United’s recent upturn in form and attacking flair has coincided with Anthony Martial’s return from injury – and it is no surprise to Pereira, who backs the France international as the best in the squad in that regard.
“I would say Anthony Martial has good tricks, ” Pereira said.
“In training, he has a lot of tricks. He’s very skilful.
“You wouldn’t do skills in a game, really, because you can score goals quicker without them, so in training you practise more skills than in the games, for sure.
“I like to do skills, for sure. I’m probably number one [laughs] but I’ll give it to Anthony!”
Man Utd squad 2019-20 | Injuries, contracts and squad numbers
1/28
We run you through Man Utd’s squad for the 2019-20 season…
AFP/Getty Images
2/28 David de Gea
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2020
REUTERS
3/28 Victor Lindelof
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2021
Man Utd via Getty Images
4/28 Eric Bailly
Condition: Knee injury
Contract expires: 30/06/2020
EPA
5/28 Phil Jones
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2023
Man Utd via Getty Images
6/28 Harry Maguire
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2025 (plus option of one-year extension)
Manchester United via Getty Imag
7/28 Paul Pogba
Condition: Ankle injury (unavailable until December)
Contract expires: 30/06/2021
Getty Images
8/28 Alexis Sanchez
Condition: Ankle injury (on loan at Inter Milan)
Contract expires: 30/06/2022
PA
9/28 Juan Mata
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2021
Getty Images
10/28 Anthony Martial
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2024
Getty Images
11/28 Marcus Rashford
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2023
Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
12/28 Lee Grant
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2020
Getty Images for International Champions Cup
13/28 Jesse Lingard
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2021
Action Images via Reuters
14/28 Andreas Pereira
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2023
Getty Images for International Champions Cup
15/28 Marcos Rojo
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2021
Man Utd via Getty Images
16/28 Fred
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2023
AFP/Getty Images
17/28 Ashley Young
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2020
Getty Images
18/28 Diogo Dalot
Condition: Injured
Contract expires: 30/06/2020
AFP/Getty Images/Fabrice Coffrini
19/28 Daniel James
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2024
Man Utd via Getty Images
20/28 Sergio Romero
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2021
Getty Images
21/28 Luke Shaw
Condition: Thigh injury
Contract expires: 30/06/2023
EPA
22/28 Timothy Fosu-Mensah
Condition: Knee injury
Contract expires: 30/06/2020
Man Utd via Getty Images
23/28 Mason Greenwood
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2023
Manchester United via Getty Imag
24/28 Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2024
Manchester United via Getty Imag
25/28 Nemanja Matic
Condition: Muscle injury
Contract expires: 30/06/2020
Action Images via Reuters
26/28 Axel Tuanzebe
Condition: Hip injury
Contract expires: 30/06/2022
AFP/Getty Images
27/28 Scott McTominay
Condition: Ankle injury
Contract expires: 30/06/2023
Getty Images
28/28 Joel Pereira
Condition: Fit (on loan at Hearts)
Contract expires: 30/06/2021
AFP/Getty Images
1/28
We run you through Man Utd’s squad for the 2019-20 season…
AFP/Getty Images
2/28 David de Gea
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2020
REUTERS
3/28 Victor Lindelof
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2021
Man Utd via Getty Images
4/28 Eric Bailly
Condition: Knee injury
Contract expires: 30/06/2020
EPA
5/28 Phil Jones
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2023
Man Utd via Getty Images
6/28 Harry Maguire
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2025 (plus option of one-year extension)
Manchester United via Getty Imag
7/28 Paul Pogba
Condition: Ankle injury (unavailable until December)
Contract expires: 30/06/2021
Getty Images
8/28 Alexis Sanchez
Condition: Ankle injury (on loan at Inter Milan)
Contract expires: 30/06/2022
PA
9/28 Juan Mata
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2021
Getty Images
10/28 Anthony Martial
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2024
Getty Images
11/28 Marcus Rashford
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2023
Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
12/28 Lee Grant
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2020
Getty Images for International Champions Cup
13/28 Jesse Lingard
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2021
Action Images via Reuters
14/28 Andreas Pereira
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2023
Getty Images for International Champions Cup
15/28 Marcos Rojo
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2021
Man Utd via Getty Images
16/28 Fred
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2023
AFP/Getty Images
17/28 Ashley Young
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2020
Getty Images
18/28 Diogo Dalot
Condition: Injured
Contract expires: 30/06/2020
AFP/Getty Images/Fabrice Coffrini
19/28 Daniel James
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2024
Man Utd via Getty Images
20/28 Sergio Romero
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2021
Getty Images
21/28 Luke Shaw
Condition: Thigh injury
Contract expires: 30/06/2023
EPA
22/28 Timothy Fosu-Mensah
Condition: Knee injury
Contract expires: 30/06/2020
Man Utd via Getty Images
23/28 Mason Greenwood
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2023
Manchester United via Getty Imag
24/28 Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Condition: Fit
Contract expires: 30/06/2024
Manchester United via Getty Imag
25/28 Nemanja Matic
Condition: Muscle injury
Contract expires: 30/06/2020
Action Images via Reuters
26/28 Axel Tuanzebe
Condition: Hip injury
Contract expires: 30/06/2022
AFP/Getty Images
27/28 Scott McTominay
Condition: Ankle injury
Contract expires: 30/06/2023
Getty Images
28/28 Joel Pereira
Condition: Fit (on loan at Hearts)
Contract expires: 30/06/2021
AFP/Getty Images
As for ball retention, Pereira is confident of his own ability: “To be fair, I think I love it. Fred loves to keep possession too. But I think possession-wise, I’m number one [laughs]. I sometimes hang on to it for too long in training.
“But I love to keep possession. Possession training is the one where, if I see it, I think ‘Ah, yeah, today is my day’.”
With just 16 Premier League goals this season – fewer than Burnley and Aston Villa – United haven’t had that many opportunities to celebrate goals this season.
However, one player stands out for Pereira when the net rattles: Marcus Rashford.
Pereira added: “Even when he scored [against Chelsea], I get fired up seeing him celebrate in front of me.
“He has the best celebration. Everyone goes to him and celebrates too. It’s the best celebration.”
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