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.
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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.
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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.
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