Manchester United began their pre-season campaign with a goalless draw against newly-promoted Leeds in Stockholm.
After Ruben Amorim’s side recorded their worst-scoring Premier League campaign last term with 44 goals, there were little signs of improvement in front of goal despite starting new £62.5m signing Matheus Cunha, who played the first half.
In fact, Leeds arguably looked the most threatening over the course of the 90 minutes, with Daniel Farke’s side having more of the ball in the first half and plenty more chances to take the lead after half-time.
Teenage striker Chido Obi, who started alongside Cunha and Bruno Fernandes in Amorim’s attack, had United’s best first-half opportunities as he tested Karl Darlow from a tight angle.
The 17-year-old then took the ball off Cunha’s toes inside the area – a demonstration of the work still to be done on the training ground to get Amorim’s attack on song. Casemiro’s deflected cross also crashed off the Leeds crossbar in first-half stoppage time.
Team news
- Man Utd first half team: Bayindir; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Shaw; Amad, Casemiro, Collyer, Leon; Fernandes, Cunha, Obi
- Man Utd second half team: Heaton; Yoro, Heaven, Maguire (Fredericson, 74); Dalot, Mainoo, Ugarte, Dorgu; Mount, Mantato (Fletcher, 80), Hojlund
- Leeds first half team: Darlow; Byram, Bijol, Rodon, Bogle; Ampadu, Gruev, Tanaka; Harrison, Nmecha, Gnonto
- Leeds second half team: Meslier; Bogle (Chambers, 77) , Struijk, Bornauw, Gudmundsson; Longstaff, Tanaka (Gray, 77), Gruev (Crew, 86); Ramazani, Piroe (Chadwick, 89), James
Amorim then changed his entire starting XI at half-time but it was Leeds – who also made wholesale changes including giving a debut for Sean Longstaff – who had the better of the second period.
Half-time substitute Joel Piroe set up two big chances for Jaden Bogle and two for Largie Ramazani, but the Whites could only find Tom Heaton’s gloves on every occasion. Ao Tanaka also fired wide after a corner was flicked into his path at the far post.
Amorim’s United thought they had a penalty when Patrick Dorgu was brought down by Sam Chambers but the referee waved it on, with the wing-back then forcing Illan Meslier into a decent save.
Man Utd then had the best chance of the afternoon as the clock ticked into 90 as Kobbie Mainoo hit the bar from a corner from just two yards out, with Ayden Heaven finding Meslier on the rebound from a similar distance.
Their problems were summarised with their last big chance of the game as Rasmus Hojlund got in the way of Dorgu’s goalbound effort.
Bryan Mbeumo is on his way to complete a £71m move to Manchester, but there is still a lot left to be desired about Amorim’s attack on the basis of this showing.
Sky Sports to show 215 live Premier League games from next season
Image: Watch more Premier League matches on Sky Sports ever before with 215 games live of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
From next season, Sky Sports’ Premier League coverage will increase from 128 matches to at least 215 games exclusively live.
And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League games next season are on Sky Sports.
