Latest news with #Cunha
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Four issues Ruben Amorim must solve during Manchester United's pre-season tour
Manchester United are getting ready for their pre-season tour of the United States, having kicked off their run of summer friendlies with an uninspiring 0-0 draw against Leeds on Saturday Ruben Amorim is embarking on his first full pre-season as Manchester United boss this summer. The Red Devils will jet off to the United States this week ahead of three matches as part of the Premier League's Summer Series. United's first game, against West Ham, will be played at midnight UK time on Saturday at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where next year's World Cup final will be held. Amorim's side will then take on Bournemouth at 2:30am next Thursday, July 31 in Chicago. Finally, the Red Devils are due to play Everton at 10pm on Saturday, August 3 in Atlanta. There's also a clash with Fiorentina at Old Trafford a week later but the bulk of Amorim's work will be done during their money-spinning trip across the pond. United have already started their pre-season campaign, drawing 0-0 with Leeds in Stockholm on Saturday. It reminded fans of a multitude of problems which the Red Devils need to solve for the 2025-26 season. Ahead of United's three-game tour of the US, here are four areas of the team which Amorim is looking to improve. Scoring more goals United ended last season's Premier League campaign with just 44 goals. Only four sides scored fewer and finding the net more regularly is the key area where United need to improve. New signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo will go a long way to addressing that, but Amorim knows he still needs to recruit a new No.9 to lead United's attack next season, with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee simply not prolific enough to lead the attack. Where will Manchester United finish this season? Give us your prediction in the comments section. Getting the best out of Cunha Despite United playing out a goalless draw with newly-promoted Leeds in Stockholm on Sunday, Amorim said he saw some positives, in particular the connection and link-up play between captain Bruno Fernandes and new signing Cunha. That is an understanding Amorim is keen to build upon, with Cunha's aggression, pace and ability to make a difference in the final third something United lacked last season, with the burden falling all too often on Fernandes. Establishing a settled defence Defence is the area of the pitch where United have the greatest depth, but Amorim will be keen to establish a settled back three, supported by two wing-backs, that he can rely on. Injuries forced Amorim to reshuffle his defensive personnel last season, but the arrival of Diego Leon, along with the return from injury of Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw, gives Amorim greater options to choose from when trying to decide upon his first-choice back five. Addressing a vulnerable midfield Opponents found it too easy to play through United's midfield last season and that is an area Amorim knows he must address. Casemiro returned to form last season, but at 33 he cannot be relied upon every game. Manuel Ugarte had a poor season, Kobbie Mainoo regressed and Mason Mount continued to be a hostage to injury. The signings of Cunha and Mbeumo means Casemiro and Fernandes are likely to occupy deeper midfield roles, but a new midfielder is required.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Ruben Amorim drops hint on next Man Utd transfer target in honest post-match message
Manchester United are closing in on the signing of Bryan Mbeumo but plenty more transfer activity is expected at Old Trafford following their poor 2024-25 campaign Ruben Amorim singled out Manchester United 's midfield as a potential area of concern after the Red Devils played out an uneventful 0-0 draw with Leeds in Stockholm on Saturday. United jet off on their pre-season tour of the United States on Tuesday but kicked off their pre-season campaign with a match against their bitter rivals at the Strawberry Arena. There was little to savour, though, as both sides laboured to a goalless draw. Matheus Cunha and Diego Leon, United's only summer signings, both played in the first half and caught the eye. But with United in need of more quality additions before the new Premier League campaign kicks off next month, Amorim gave an honest assessment post-match where he pointed out the 'lack of pace' in United's engine room. He said: "It was a pre-season game. The gaps between our sectors was sometimes too big. "We have a lack of pace, especially in the middle of the park and you can feel it is hard to win and bring the ball. But we created chances." Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes played together in midfield during the first half with Cunha and Toby Collyer ahead of them in the dual No 10 roles, though Collyer and Amad switched roles later in the half. Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte was United's midfield pairing for the second period. United are expected to target a new No 9 now that they have finally agreed terms with Brentford for the transfer of Bryan Mbeumo, who is expected to undergo a medical and finalise his move over the weekend. But Amorim's comments could be a hint that United will now focus on adding to their midfield options after focusing on their attack. In Cunha and Mbeumo, United have secured two of the Premier League's top forwards from last season and Amorim was pleased with what he saw from Cunha in his first appearance for the club. He said: "I think Matheus Cunha showed what we need. That he is a player when he receives the ball between the lines can be really aggressive in the direction of the opponents. "We watched that during last season in a different team so we expect the same thing. Of course you can see the connection between him and Bruno is still not there but it's going to be a good connection." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Leader Live
2 days ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Matheus Cunha showed what we need on Man Utd debut
Seven weeks after bringing the curtain down on their post-season trip to Malaysia and Hong Kong, the Red Devils stepped up their preparations for the new campaign at the Strawberry Arena in Stockholm. Amorim's men and rivals Leeds fought out a scoreless draw, with both sides making wholesale changes midway through a friendly that saw Cunha make his first appearance since his £62.5million switch from Wolves. Head coach Amorim said: 'It was a pre-season game. I think the distance between the sectors was really big sometimes. 💬 "I think Matheus Cunha showed what we need…but we have to increase our quality in the final third." Ruben's post-match reaction on #MUTV 👇 — Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 19, 2025 'We suffered a little bit when we tried to press high. They kicked the ball, win the second ball and they were dangerous in that moment. 'We have a lack of pace, especially in the middle of the park and you can feel that it's hard to bring the ball, but we created chances. 'I think Matheus Cunha showed what we need – that is the player when he receives the ball between the lines can be really aggressive in direction of the opponent. 'We watched that during last season in a different team, so we expect the same thing. 'Of course, you can see that the connection between him and Bruno (Fernandes) is still not there, but it's going to be a good connection.' Cunha played the first half in Sweden, as did fellow new boy Diego Leon. The 18-year-old left wing-back recently linked up with the Red Devils having agreed to move to Old Trafford from Paraguayan side Cerro Porteno in January. 'We have to understand that the kid came from Paraguay and it's the second week in Manchester United,' Amorim told MUTV. 'He did really well. 'He's learning things, he's powerful. He's going to be a very good player.' Amorim felt Leeds provided 'a good test' but knows his side have a 'lot to do' as they prepare to face three more Premier League opponents in the United States. Thank you, Stockholm 🫵🇸🇪 — Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 19, 2025 They will take on West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton on their pre-season tour, which they jet out to on Tuesday. 'It's really important,' Amorim said of the time away in America. 'I think we need to create that bond between everybody – not just them, but also the staff. 'All the changes are stopping, so we need to leave that as a group. We have a lot to improve – the speed of the game, all the details we are going to improve. 'I felt the environment is really good. Of course sometimes we are going to struggle, but what I feel since the first moment is we are going to struggle but we are (going to) struggle together, and that is the beginning of everything. 'Then we have to put the quality, because this club is not just about the effort. It's the quality and you have to win games.'
North Wales Chronicle
2 days ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Matheus Cunha showed what we need on Man Utd debut
Seven weeks after bringing the curtain down on their post-season trip to Malaysia and Hong Kong, the Red Devils stepped up their preparations for the new campaign at the Strawberry Arena in Stockholm. Amorim's men and rivals Leeds fought out a scoreless draw, with both sides making wholesale changes midway through a friendly that saw Cunha make his first appearance since his £62.5million switch from Wolves. Head coach Amorim said: 'It was a pre-season game. I think the distance between the sectors was really big sometimes. 💬 "I think Matheus Cunha showed what we need…but we have to increase our quality in the final third." Ruben's post-match reaction on #MUTV 👇 — Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 19, 2025 'We suffered a little bit when we tried to press high. They kicked the ball, win the second ball and they were dangerous in that moment. 'We have a lack of pace, especially in the middle of the park and you can feel that it's hard to bring the ball, but we created chances. 'I think Matheus Cunha showed what we need – that is the player when he receives the ball between the lines can be really aggressive in direction of the opponent. 'We watched that during last season in a different team, so we expect the same thing. 'Of course, you can see that the connection between him and Bruno (Fernandes) is still not there, but it's going to be a good connection.' Cunha played the first half in Sweden, as did fellow new boy Diego Leon. The 18-year-old left wing-back recently linked up with the Red Devils having agreed to move to Old Trafford from Paraguayan side Cerro Porteno in January. 'We have to understand that the kid came from Paraguay and it's the second week in Manchester United,' Amorim told MUTV. 'He did really well. 'He's learning things, he's powerful. He's going to be a very good player.' Amorim felt Leeds provided 'a good test' but knows his side have a 'lot to do' as they prepare to face three more Premier League opponents in the United States. Thank you, Stockholm 🫵🇸🇪 — Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 19, 2025 They will take on West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton on their pre-season tour, which they jet out to on Tuesday. 'It's really important,' Amorim said of the time away in America. 'I think we need to create that bond between everybody – not just them, but also the staff. 'All the changes are stopping, so we need to leave that as a group. We have a lot to improve – the speed of the game, all the details we are going to improve. 'I felt the environment is really good. Of course sometimes we are going to struggle, but what I feel since the first moment is we are going to struggle but we are (going to) struggle together, and that is the beginning of everything. 'Then we have to put the quality, because this club is not just about the effort. It's the quality and you have to win games.'
Rhyl Journal
2 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Matheus Cunha showed what we need on Man Utd debut
Seven weeks after bringing the curtain down on their post-season trip to Malaysia and Hong Kong, the Red Devils stepped up their preparations for the new campaign at the Strawberry Arena in Stockholm. Amorim's men and rivals Leeds fought out a scoreless draw, with both sides making wholesale changes midway through a friendly that saw Cunha make his first appearance since his £62.5million switch from Wolves. Head coach Amorim said: 'It was a pre-season game. I think the distance between the sectors was really big sometimes. 💬 "I think Matheus Cunha showed what we need…but we have to increase our quality in the final third." Ruben's post-match reaction on #MUTV 👇 — Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 19, 2025 'We suffered a little bit when we tried to press high. They kicked the ball, win the second ball and they were dangerous in that moment. 'We have a lack of pace, especially in the middle of the park and you can feel that it's hard to bring the ball, but we created chances. 'I think Matheus Cunha showed what we need – that is the player when he receives the ball between the lines can be really aggressive in direction of the opponent. 'We watched that during last season in a different team, so we expect the same thing. 'Of course, you can see that the connection between him and Bruno (Fernandes) is still not there, but it's going to be a good connection.' Cunha played the first half in Sweden, as did fellow new boy Diego Leon. The 18-year-old left wing-back recently linked up with the Red Devils having agreed to move to Old Trafford from Paraguayan side Cerro Porteno in January. 'We have to understand that the kid came from Paraguay and it's the second week in Manchester United,' Amorim told MUTV. 'He did really well. 'He's learning things, he's powerful. He's going to be a very good player.' Amorim felt Leeds provided 'a good test' but knows his side have a 'lot to do' as they prepare to face three more Premier League opponents in the United States. Thank you, Stockholm 🫵🇸🇪 — Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 19, 2025 They will take on West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton on their pre-season tour, which they jet out to on Tuesday. 'It's really important,' Amorim said of the time away in America. 'I think we need to create that bond between everybody – not just them, but also the staff. 'All the changes are stopping, so we need to leave that as a group. We have a lot to improve – the speed of the game, all the details we are going to improve. 'I felt the environment is really good. Of course sometimes we are going to struggle, but what I feel since the first moment is we are going to struggle but we are (going to) struggle together, and that is the beginning of everything. 'Then we have to put the quality, because this club is not just about the effort. It's the quality and you have to win games.'
