With uncertainty, Donny van de Beek, after scoring a crucial equalizer in Amsterdam against Spain on Wednesday, hopes the watching Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had some food for thought.
Donny Van de Beek has found his play opportunities limited since his Premier League move to Manchester United. During his international duty, the midfielder struck a successive Holland game as they drew with Spain. The Dutchman hopes his Premier League coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was following the match.
United parted with £40 million this summer to land on Van De Beek’s signature from Ajax. And yet, opportunities have been fleeting, many have had to come from the bench.
But on his international duty, he was to play a leading role. The midfielder struck minutes into the second half to cancel out Sergio Canceles’ fizzing strike in what was a pulsating friendly.
While Van De Beek was positive to emerge from the evening, there will be concerns for United’s rivals Manchester City after defender Nathan Ake hobbled off clutching his hamstring inside six minutes.
The 25-year-old collapsed to the turf before clutching the back of his right leg and it arrives as the latest injury setback for City boss Pep Guardiola.
Already, City has seen fellow defenders Aymeric Laporte and Benjamin Mendy suffer injury problems this term.
Things started much brighter for Spain.
Real Betis’ Canales scored his first international goal after 18 minutes when Juventus striker Alvaro Morata slipped him in and he found the bottom corner from 16 yards.
Morata has looked revived since moving back to Juventus and he once again impressed in this affair.
Van de Beek leveled immediately after the break when Owen Wijndal’s cross went across the area and he drilled low past Unai Simon.
Sergio Ramos came on in the second half for Spain for his 176th international appearance, which made him the joint most capped European man with Gianluigi Buffon.
When quizzed at the end on his side’s lack of potency in attack, Spain boss Luis Enrique said he is ‘not concerned’.
“We had imbalances in the second half”. He said. “They have caused us problems”.
Jose Luis Gaya was an injury scare for Spain as he required stitches after a deep cut on his head.
“We will talk to the doctors”. Enrique added.
“A blow to the head always worries us”.
Gaya went off and Enrique refused to quash the possibility of making a replacement call-up for forthcoming games.
“We do not rule out calling another player, who has to have the PCR updated, or calling a player from the U-21”.