United kicked off pre-season with a 0-0 draw against Leeds in Stockholm. It wasn’t the most exciting watch, but it gave Ruben Amorim the chance to test new faces, get players minutes, and start shaping his side heading into the US tour.
There were some bright moments.
Matheus Cunha looked sharp, Diego León made a strong debut, and Tom Heaton reminded everyone he’s still a good goalkeeper alongside being a good dressing-room influence.
But it has to be said that we saw some of the same problems that dogged us last season. Luckily it’s only pre-season and Amorim has time to sort it out
Here’s the six things we learned from Saturday.
1. Midfield Still Lacking Energy
Amorim was honest after the match:
“We have a lack of pace, especially in the middle of the park.” Leeds exposed that more than once, winning second balls and playing through midfield too easily. United’s press looked half-committed, and the midfield three of Casemiro, Bruno and Collyer of couldn’t really shift the tempo or drive the ball between the lines.
Kobbie Mainoo came on and gave it a bit more urgency, but it’s clear United still need an athletic, ball-carrying midfielder to link things properly.
If he doesn’t arrive before the season opener, it could be a problem.
2. Cunha’s Debut Shows real promise
Matheus Cunha stepped onto the pitch like he’d been at United for years.
From the off he showed energy, intelligence, and a bit of bite. Within 15 minutes he was demanding more from Luke Shaw, telling him to ping passes in quicker. That kind of presence and outspoken character is exactly what United need.
He followed it up with clever movement, at one point breaking through two defenders before drawing a foul and sparking a decent attacking spell.
Amorim was full of praise, saying Cunha “showed what we need… he’s aggressive between the lines” and that the link with Bruno “will come with time”. And you could see the potential. He took up smart positions, pressed with intent, and looked like the most likely to make something happen in a flat first half.
Yes, sometimes the final ball wasn’t there, and he didn’t get a shot away.
But if this is Cunha playing at 70%, he’s going to be a problem for defenders once he’s fully integrated. He looks tailor-made for Amorim’s system.
3. Diego León showed potential
Thrown in on the left flank for his first appearance, 18-year-old Diego León was tested immediately. Leeds targeted his side, and there were a few nervy moments early on; understandable for someone playing their first game in Europe. But give credit where it’s due: León didn’t shrink and after Luke Shaw had a word he got to grips with Leeds direct attacking style.
He stayed calm, showed composure on the ball, and wasn’t afraid to push forward when space opened up. Amorim called him “powerful… learning… going to be a very good player” after just two weeks at Carrington. That’s high praise, and while he may not be ready to start games in the league, he didn’t look out of place either.
4. Casemiro can still pull the Strings (But for How Long?)
In a first half where not much clicked, Casemiro still offered a degree of control.
His passing was tidy, his positioning was spot-on, and his deflected effort off the bar just before the break was United’s best moment of the game. When he plays, United look calmer. Without him, things tend to fall apart.
That said, Casemiro is now 33 and the club can’t keep leaning on him every week. If Amorim wants to press aggressively and control games at a higher tempo, he’ll need a younger, more mobile holding option to rotate with Casemiro, or risk burning him out by November.
5. Heaton Shines, but highlights wider keeper worries
Tom Heaton came on for the second half and, weirdly, was probably one of the best players on the pitch.
He made two excellent saves, looked confident coming off his line, and gave the defence a bit of authority behind them. It was a classic “safe hands” performance.
But when your third-choice keeper is a standout performer in a game you largely controlled, that raises more questions than answers. Bayindir didn’t impress in the first half, and with Onana out injured, United might have to step up the search for a keeper, and have been linked with a couple recently.
6. Finishing is still an issue
United racked up 19 shots but managed just four on target. Casemiro and Mainoo both struck the bar, Ayden Heaven had a rebound blocked, and other chances went begging. It’s not just about composure; at times movement in the final third felt predictable and slow.
Hojlund came on but didn’t get much service. Obi was eager but often not quite on the same wavelength as others, taking a golden opportunity of Cunha’s toes in the first half.
This lack of cutting edge has haunted United before. At times yesterday, it felt like the same old story: plenty of the ball, not enough end product.
Player Ratings & MOTM
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Altay Bayindir | 6.0 |
| Tom Heaton (sub) | 7.5 |
| Noussair Mazraoui | 7.0 |
| Matthijs De Ligt | 6.0 |
| Luke Shaw | 6.5 |
| Diego León | 6.5 |
| Casemiro | 6.5 |
| Toby Collyer | 6.0 |
| Bruno Fernandes | 6.0 |
| Amad Diallo | 6.5 |
| Matheus Cunha | 7.5 & MOTM |
| Chido Obi | 6.0 |
| Ayden Heaven (sub) | 7.0 |
| Kobbie Mainoo (sub) | 6.5 |
| Harry Maguire (sub) | 6.0 |
| Leny Yoro (sub) | 6.5 |
| Diogo Dalot (sub) | 6.0 |
| Patrick Dorgu (sub) | 6.5 |
| Mason Mount (sub) | 6.5 |
| Rasmus Hojlund (sub) | 5.5 |
Looking forward
While not a game that will live long in the memory, Saturday’s friendly was useful and informative.
Cunha looked like a great addition, León gave a good account of himself and Tom Heaton was very good. But there were big gaps: midfield pace and dynamism, attacking sharpness, and consistent tempo.
We have 3 games in the US and then Fiorentina at Old Trafford before the first league game at home to Arsenal. Let’s hope we can continue to improve, integrate new boy Mbeumo properly and get ready for a very tough opening set of games.