Manchester United have concluded their successful pre-season tour of the United States with a disjointed performance, drawing 2-2 with Everton in their final Premier League Summer Series match in Atlanta on Sunday.
The main highlight for the traveling fans was the much-anticipated debut of star summer signing, Bryan Mbeumo. The Cameroonian started the match and made an immediate impact, playing a clever through ball which led to United’s opening penalty.
Bruno Fernandes calmly converted from the spot to give United the lead. After Everton equalized, Mason Mount restored the lead with a brilliant individual goal in the second half, showcasing a fantastic turn and shot. However, the lead was short-lived, as a calamitous and bizarre own goal just six minutes later gifted the Toffees a late equalizer.
After the match, manager Ruben Amorim was positive about his new forward. On Mbeumo’s debut, he said, “He played well… His connection with the players, his runs, he’s going to be important for us.” He also praised Mason Mount’s incredible work ethic: “He does everything at 100%.”
Despite the individual bright spots, Amorim was critical of the team’s overall performance, particularly the issues in midfield. “We struggle with the buildup,” he admitted, acknowledging the team had difficulty dealing with long balls and second balls.
The manager’s final verdict on the game was clear and blunt. While he stated that the overall tour was “really important for us,” when asked specifically about the Everton performance, he said, “We still have a lot of work.”
Although Manchester United lift the Summer Series trophy, the final match served as a timely reality check, highlighting the areas that need significant improvement before the Premier League season begins.