Manchester United kicked off their pre-season with a goalless draw against Leeds United at the Strawberry Arena in Stockholm. Manager Ruben Amorim made a full squad change at half-time, offering fans a glimpse of his tactical intentions.
The match saw the highly anticipated debuts of £62.5 million ($83.7 million) signing Matheus Cunha and Diego Leon. Despite promising opportunities for Chido Obi, a deflected Casemiro cross that struck the crossbar, and a late effort from Kobbie Mainoo also hitting the woodwork, the revamped United side couldn’t find a breakthrough.
Here’s an in-depth look at the key talking points:
Did Cunha Leave an Impression?
Ruben Amorim had one core expectation for his new £62.5 million acquisition: “If he’s understanding the position,” he told MUTV before kick-off, “that is the most important thing.”
An early nudge from Toby Collyer to press high, followed by a puzzled glance at Amorim when tasked with tracking down Leeds players moments later, hinted that Matheus Cunha still has some adapting to do. This is, of course, entirely understandable in his very first appearance.
However, when United had possession, the 26-year-old was at the heart of the few bright moments Amorim’s side managed during an otherwise drab first half. Cunha skillfully won fouls, maneuvered through tight spaces, and linked effectively with fellow newcomer Diego Leon on the left wing. He even came close to slotting home one of United’s better chances, only for Chido Obi to take it off his toes and fire wide.
On the ball, he looked sharp and incisive. Off it, his positional play visibly improved. His complete understanding of Amorim’s demanding system will undoubtedly come with time. On an afternoon when United’s former No. 10 (Bruno Fernandes) may have solidified his short-term future, the story of their new No. 10 (Cunha) has just begun.
Leon’s Challenging Start
This friendly also provided the first opportunity for supporters to closely observe Diego Leon. The young defender successfully navigated his initial 45 minutes as a United player, though not without some early jitters.
An early scare emerged when Leeds’ Jayden Bogle combined effectively with Wilfried Gnonto, dragging the 18-year-old out of position and allowing them to break in behind Amorim’s defensive line. An awkward moment followed when his right boot came off, forcing him to briefly continue playing with untied laces. Leeds clearly targeted Leon’s flank for the first half-hour.
However, the $4 million signing from Cerro Porteno was brought in partly for his tenacity and physicality, and he visibly grew into the battle as the half progressed. Gnonto found increasingly less success down United’s left, and Leon even offered some glimpses of his potential in possession, including a clever slide pass that led to Obi testing goalkeeper Karl Darlow.
Amorim and his staff are currently assessing Leon’s capabilities during pre-season to determine if he’s ready to provide cover for first-choice wing-back Patrick Dorgu. Based on this initial showing, he certainly didn’t hinder his chances.
What Did This Reveal About Amorim’s Plans?
While the second half largely mirrored the first in its uneventfulness, these goalless 90 minutes offered some initial insights into Amorim’s plans for the upcoming season, and how much — or how little — they might differ from previous setups.
Toby Collyer’s start as the right-sided No. 10 was particularly significant. This setup saw Bruno Fernandes once again partnering Casemiro in central midfield, a configuration seen during the latter stages of last season and in the Europa League final. With Bryan Mbeumo expected to occupy that right-sided No. 10 role and Cunha on the left, it suggests the United captain’s future likely lies in the heart of the midfield this season. Fernandes notably dropped even deeper on several occasions to assist with building play from the back.
The arrivals of Cunha and Mbeumo will probably necessitate Amad Diallo playing more minutes at right wing-back, the role he started in during this match. Yet, after a quiet first half-hour, he swapped positions with Collyer, returning to the front three, and gradually became much more involved in the attacking play.
Another interesting observation was Kobbie Mainoo, who featured in the deeper midfield pairing rather than a more advanced role. Questions have been raised about where Fernandes, Amad, and Mainoo fit into this new system, especially after the significant summer investment in attacking talent. One friendly certainly doesn’t provide concrete answers, but it will be fascinating to see if they maintain these roles during the upcoming US tour.
