Manchester United Stumble in Lackluster Pre-Season Opener Against Leeds United
Manchester United began their pre-season preparations with a lackluster scoreless stalemate against familiar foes Leeds United on Saturday evening in Stockholm.
The Red Devils journeyed to Sweden for their inaugural summer friendly but struggled to captivate their Nordic supporters at the Strawberry Arena throughout the opening period. They managed only a single attempt on goal as Chido Obi fired from a narrow position, while their sole other meaningful opportunity arose when Casemiro's redirected cross struck the woodwork.
United's fortunes barely improved following the interval as they continued to lack fluency and struggled to fashion genuine scoring opportunities. Without some excellent stops from Tom Heaton, Leeds might have broken the deadlock in the early stages of the second half.
Man Utd mounted a more determined effort for victory in the final moments and nearly snatched the winner with just two minutes remaining. A chaotic sequence from a set piece saw Kobbie Mainoo rattle the crossbar, before Ayden Heaven somehow squandered the follow-up as the Red Devils were forced to settle for a stalemate in their opening preseason encounter of the campaign.
Man Utd Player Ratings (3-4-2-1)
*Ratings provided by FotMob*
Player | Rating (Out of 10) |
|---|---|
GK: Altay Bayındır | 6.7 |
CB: Noussair Mazraoui | 7.1 |
CB: Matthijs de Ligt | 6.4 |
CB: Luke Shaw | 6.4 |
RWB: Amad Diallo | 6.5 |
CM: Toby Collyer | 6.3 |
CM: Casemiro | 6.3 |
LWB: Diego León | 6.6 |
RF: Bruno Fernandes | 7.3 |
ST: Chido Obi | 5.9 |
LF: Matheus Cunha | 6.3 |
SUB: Tom Heaton (46' for Bayındır) | 7.1 |
SUB: Leny Yoro (46' for Mazraoui) | 6.6 |
SUB: Harry Maguire (46' for De Ligt) | 6.7 |
SUB: Ayden Heaven (46' for Shaw) | 6.8 |
SUB: Diogo Dalot (46' for Amad) | 7.0 |
SUB: Manuel Ugarte (46' for Collyer) | 6.8 |
SUB: Kobbie Mainoo (46' for Casemiro) | 6.4 |
SUB: Patrick Dorgu (46' for León) | 6.5 |
SUB: Mason Mount (46' for Fernandes) | 6.4 |
SUB: Rasmus Højlund (46' for Obi) | 6.4 |
SUB: Bendito Mantato (46' for Cunha) | 6.4 |
SUB: Tyler Fredricson (74' for Maguire) | 6.1 |
SUB: Jack Fletcher (80' for Mantato) | 6.0 |
Subs not used: Dermot Mee (GK), Godwill Kukonki, Reece Munro, Sékou Koné, Ethan Williams.
Leeds Player Ratings (4-2-3-1)
*Ratings provided by FotMob*
Player | Rating (Out of 10) | |
|---|---|---|
GK: Karl Darlow | 7.1 | |
RB: Jayden Bogle | 7.6 | |
CB: Joe Rodon | 6.9 | |
CB: Jaka Bijol | 6.7 | |
LB: Sam Byram | 6.4 | |
DM: Ethan Ampadu | 6.4 | |
DM: Ilia Gruev | 7.5 | |
RW: Wilfried Gnonto | 6.7 | |
AM: Ao Tanaka | 7.1 | |
LW: Jack Harrison | 5.9 | |
ST: Lukas Nmecha | 6.4 | |
SUB: Sebastiaan Bornauw (46' for Rodon) | 6.8 | |
SUB: Pascal Struijk (46' for Bijol) | 6.1 | |
SUB: Gabriel Gudmundsson (46' for Byram) | 6.0 | |
SUB: Largie Ramazani (46' for Harrison) | 6.2 | |
SUB: Sean Longstaff (46' for Ampadu) | 6.2 | |
SUB: Joël Piroe (46' for Nmecha) | 6.3 | |
SUB: Dan James (46' for Gnonto) | 6.4 | |
SUB: Illan Meslier (54' for Darlow) | 7.1 | |
SUB: Sam Chambers (77' for Tanaka) | 6.1 | |
SUB: Harry Gray (77' for Bogle) | 6.0 | |
SUB: Charlie Crew (86' for Gruev) | N/A | |
SUB: Rhys Chadwick (90' for Piroe) | N/A |
Subs not used: Alex Cairns (GK), Rory Mahady (GK).