Two rookies worth 133 million pounds Matheus Cuha and Bryan Mbeumo will help the first full season of coach Ruben Amorim in MU have much hope. But to become a true force, the Red Devils still need to complete at least one key contract.
When July is about to close, the eyes of the football world have poured back to the season only three weeks will start. Man United and rivals are entering the peak period of the pre -season, with the scouts that are still working hard to find factors that can make a difference.
Amorim's first 6 months is a real disaster. The Portuguese strategist only won only 6 victories in the Premier League, when trying to impose a rigid 3-4-2-1 system on a team that was not built for that gameplay.
However, this summer witnessed Manchester United's great ambition in the transfer market, when they quickly brought back two experienced Premier League stars, Matheus Cuha (26 years old) and Bryan Mbeumo (25 years old). Both have a significant achievement in disturbing the opponent's defense in the highest tournament in England.
Here's how Cunha and Mbeumo can help Man United makeover, and the missing position that this club is still urgently searching.
Will Bruno Fernandes play deeper?
Amorim's first summer as the head coach will not be judged only based on the 2-1 victory over West Ham at the US tour, but the match at the MetLife Stadium of New York Giants still brings many positive signals.
CuHa left a strong impression in the match on Saturday, especially effective connections with captain Bruno Fernandes, who made a double while Jarrod Bowen scored for Graham Potter's team.
Man United always relies on the shine of Fernandes to overcome difficulties. Last season, he scored 19 goals and had 18 assists, although this was the worst season of the club in the past 30 years.
However, next season, Fernandes will probably play in the central midfielder position deeper after impressing the role of the attacking midfielder in the 3-4-2-1 scheme last season. The two rookies Cunha and Mbeumo (who did not play in front of West Ham) were expected to occupy two “No. 10” positions in Amorim's diagram.
The strongest point of Fernandes is the ability to coordinate the ball in the middle and launch sharp passes to open opportunities for teammates. Meanwhile, the strength of Mbeumo is in the shadow moves from the second line, breaking the offside trap and exploiting the slot lines. With a player like Fernandes supporting behind, Mbeumo promises to have more opportunities to explode.
Fernandes can always play versatile in the middle area, and it's hard to imagine Man United will not let Cunha and Mbeumo (two people scored a total of 37 goals last season) kicked in two attack positions behind the striker.
At the bottom, Manuel Ugarte and young talent Kobbie Mainoo coordinated quite well in the match against West Ham. However, one of the two will have to sacrifice when Fernandes retreats to the central midfielder.
Amad Diallo became a true Wing-back?
This is a controversial issue, because many Man United fans want Amad Diato to focus on attacking. However, the 23-year-old once left a mark in the season before being tested in the role of Wing-back and the right attacking midfielder.
The speed and ability to go directly to the ball are the key to help Amad create mutations in the balls on the ball. With the strategy of attacking from Amorim's average defense, Amad can maximize the ability to speed up, even when the overlap (Overlap) or cut inside (underlap).
Under Amorim, Amad will be used more often as the right Wing-back, when Cunha and Mbeumo hold two central attack positions. Although limited in defense, it will be offset by Amorim always using border defenders capable of defending 1V1 good when isolated.
Amad provides value in the final attack phase. And when Cuha, Mbeumo sucks the opponent, the space for Amad will open more widely. Coach Amorim always appreciates Amad in the matches that Man United controls the game, and Amad himself once affirmed his willingness to play in any position for his coach.
Southampton and Everton last season were victims of this at Old Trafford, when they chose to give the ball and counterattack. At that time, Amad as a wing-back offered a big difference.
Man United still needs a striker
Most fans now believe that Rasmus Hojlund is not the solution to Man United's attack problem. The problem is whether Mbeumo and Cunha can maintain the performance of the previous season to compensate for the inferiority of Hojlund's goal?
Mbeumo ended the season with 20 goals and 9 assists, while Cunha had 17 goals and 6 assists in all competitions. Even so, both of them are the true striker.
Cunha best promotes his ability to receive the ball in the edge of the penalty area, where he can take a long shot or launch decisive passes. Mbeumo is dangerous when there is no ball, with tape phase to break the offside trap from the back of the defense.
Although they compensate for each other, but Man United still lacks a true striker, who can pin the opponent's defense deep back, thereby creating space for the second line and the Wing-back to exploit.
RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko (valued at £ 70 million) is a prominent goal. The player is negotiating with Newcastle, but according to Sky Sports Germany, Man United is also talking to Sesko's representative. In addition, the Reds also contacted a few other names like Ollie Watkins or Dusan Vlahovic.
The recruitment of Mbeumo and Cunha is an important step for Man United, when they bring true quality from the Premier League. However, this also means that some players in the current squad will have to adapt or back. However, coach Ruben Amorim now has many options to improve the team. And perhaps Man United will not be worse than last season, when they end in the 15th place full of disappointment.
