MATHEUS CUNHA showed his feisty side during a Manchester United debut, which proved just how far they still have to go.
The Red Devils played out a goalless draw with promoted rivals Leeds in Stockholm, handing new man Cunha his first start.
AlamyMatheus Cunha was unable to mark his first appearance with a goal[/caption]
AlamyRuben Amorim will be hoping for more moving forward[/caption]
GettyCasemiro played the first half of the match[/caption]
Ruben Amorim‘s side did not have the ideal preparation as their warm-ups were delayed.
This was due to heavy traffic around the stadium.
Cunha’s only real look at goal, when an Amad Diallo cross rolled his way on 42 minutes, was snatched from his toes by youngster Chido Obi.
Obi prodded wide and then felt the full force of Cunha’s frustration as he remonstrated with his new teammate.
Amorim wanted effort and some signs from his players that they understood what was needed of them in their first outing of pre-season.
What the Portuguese boss would not have wanted to see was Tom Heaton claiming man of the match awards.
The veteran keeper, one of 11 half-time changes, was United’s standout man, saving smartly twice inside ten minutes.
First, Heaton stopped Jayden Bogle after he cruised into the box and fired from close range.
Then, nine minutes later, substitute Largie Ramazani sent a powerful strike from the left-hand side of United’s box, but Heaton was equal to that too.
There was also a debut for full-back Diego Leon, the teenage signing from South America, though he looked rather rusty as he played in Europe for the first time.
GettyLuke Shaw earned some minutes[/caption]
AlamyRuben Amorim watched on as his side failed to score[/caption]
GettyWill Ferrell was in the crowd cheering on Leeds[/caption]
United, who hit the crossbar in the first half via Casemiro‘s deflected cross, should have scored a late 88th-minute winner to spare their blushes.
From a corner, the ball fell from a scramble for Kobbie Mainoo, whose first effort struck the bar.
Ayden Heaven followed up but saw his strike blocked before an acrobatic effort from Mainoo was well saved by Illian Meslier.
The match was watched by Leeds co-owner and Hollywood actor Will Ferrell.
While the match was being played out in Sweden, there was a major development affecting the Man United squad.
Marcus Rashford has agreed a loan move to Barcelona with an option to buy,
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