Erik ten Hag’s side have now failed to win three winter-break matches (Picture: Getty)
Manchester United played a secret behind-closed-doors friendly against fellow Premier League club Everton on Wednesday, with the Red Devils once again failing to win.
Erik ten Hag’s side have already played two friendlies this month, taking on Cadiz CF and Real Betis during a training camp in Jerez last week.
United lost the first of those matches 4-2 despite the presence of a significant number of first-team players – such as Anthony Martial and Scott McTominay – and then lost 1-0 against Real Betis, conceding 19 shots in the process.
On Wednesday, Ten Hag’s side had the chance to finally get a win under their belts before the domestic season resumes but drew 1-1 with Everton at Carrington.
Neither club is releasing details about the game, with the agreement that it would be played behind closed doors and with no club TV crews or reporters in attendance.
However, both Rhys Bennett and Kobbie Mainoo are believed to have been involved in the match – just as they were in the friendlies in Spain – with neither youngster involved with the Under-21s a day earlier in their defeat to Bolton.
The match is said to have been played at a low-tempo and was more akin to a training session than a competitive match.
United had a normal training session on Thursday (Picture: Getty)
Ten Hag will have had more of his senior, first-team players available for the match against Everton, with the likes of Christian Eriksen and Facundo Pellistri having returned from the World Cup and restarted training.
Nine more United players exited the tournament at the quarter-final stage, though they will not return to training until next week, while Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane are both taking part in Sunday’s final.
Reflecting on United’s winter break in Spain, Ten Hag said earlier this week: ‘I think we had a good week, there was a good spirit.
‘The lads worked really well, really hard. Our main objective from the week was better fitness and I think we did it, we made the progress there.
‘Also, we integrated some young lads, integrated them in the way of play and the way of playing with intensity so they can step up.
‘With some of them, I was quite happy, so that is a big win for the future.’
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The Red Devils have now failed to win three winter-break matches.
