The moment Matheus Cunha showed he is Manchester United material

The moment Matheus Cunha showed he is Manchester United material

Matheus Cunha played for Man United for the first time against Leeds United in a goalless draw in Stockholm.

Cunha played 45 minutes in Sweden

Just like last year, Manchester United's pre-season schedile began without them scoring. Unlike that unwatchable friendly against Rosenborg, they avoided defeat to Leeds United in Stockholm.

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Ruben Amorim fielded two different XIs in each half as the United players build up match fitness ahead of next Saturday's first tour test against West Ham United in New Jersey.

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Overall, 24 players were used as Tyler Fredricson and Jack Fletcher emerged for minutes in the second half. United fly to Chicago, their base while they are in the United States, on Tuesday and should have Bryan Mbeumo on board their flight.

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Here are five talking points from their first friendly in Sweden:

Midfield minefield?

Each player will be at different stages of their fitness and the rotational XI indicated that. The second XI for the second half was arguably stronger.

It was still mystifying that Amorim opted for Toby Collyer as one of the two playmakers when it is the one area of the squad where United have a surfeit of options.

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Collyer said on tour last season he needed to improve on his ball-work. Shifting from a deep role to such an advanced position for a central midfielder by trade is unlikely to do him any favours. Collyer looked as lost as a playmaker as he did at left back against Barnsley last year.

Midfield is one of United's weakest areas. The brains trust possibly believe they can cope with a quintet of Collyer, Bruno Fernandes, Manuel Ugarte, Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo in a season devoid of European football. United cannot shift Casemiro, which is partly blocking an upgrade to that department.

Fernandes has excelled from deep in the past and United are banking on him to carry the midfield. Ugarte was dropped for the Europa League final, Mainoo lost his first-team status several months ago, Casemiro could be redundant with no UEFA competition to participate in and Collyer has started three games against teams from League One, Scotland and Romania.

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Mainoo lined up in midfield in the second half and Amorim has to make his mind up on where he will primarily play next season.

Problems persist for Hojlund and Dalot

Shortly before the hour, Diogo Dalot charged into the Leeds third and played the ball into the channel for Rasmus Hojlund. Hojlund may have strayed offside and nothing came of his backheel.

Hojlund: unhappy with Dalot

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Before Hojlund got back to his feet, he was ready to let rip at Dalot. "F**k's sake," he shouted, clearly irked that Dalot had not passed the ball sooner.

It is not the first time Hojlund has vented at Dalot's end product. The most infamous flashpoint was in San Sebastian in March. Dalot was apologetic that night. On this occasion, he kept on running and blanked out the noise from Hojlund.

Amad: wide or inside?

Amad is the one winger who has survived United's cull as he has the defensive discipline to complement his attacking instincts. He has never been a problem for United, either, unlike Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Antony.

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Amorim said he prefers to use the Ivory Coast winger closer to goal but he played Amad on the flank in Sweden. Bryan Mbeumo is waiting in the wings and time will tell if he is used on the wing.

United line up in Sweden

Cunha's compliment

Matheus Cunha was fouled a couple of times on his first United start and one or two other challenges arguably warranted a stoppage. Cunha got plenty of attention at Wolves and markers will doubtless be tighter and nastier now he is United's No.10.

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Fernandes was quick to impose himself on his United debut in February 2020 and Cunha is not a shrinking violet. He was well within his rights to rebuke Chido Obi for shooting while off balance when Cunha was well poised to at least hit the target as the ball rolled towards him. Obi offered an apologetic low-five.

Even from 45 minutes that may have sent plenty of viewers to sleep, there were glimpses that Cunha is United material.

Blasts from the past

Sean Longstaff and Daniel James lined up together for United. Leeds United. If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had it his way, it would have been for Manchester United six years ago.

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United's pursuit of Longstaff ended in 2019 when Newcastle quoted them £50million. James did join the club and he has regressed to his true level since that purple patch at the beginning of his Old Trafford career, signing for relegation fodder, suffering relegation and a couple of seasons in the Championship.

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