Manchester United played out a 1-1 pre-season friendly draw against Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg, Sweden, after Bryan Mbeumo cancelled out an early goal from Ibrahim Mbaye.
The fixture in Sweden marked another encouraging result in Manchester United's pre-season campaign under manager Michael Carrick. United entered the game following a win over Rosenborg and a comeback victory against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm. Facing back-to-back European champions Paris Saint-Germain provided a tough test, even though the French side rotated their squad and were missing several players.
Early PSG Goal and Mount Injury
Paris Saint-Germain took the lead inside two minutes through 18-year-old winger Ibrahim Mbaye, a transfer target for Liverpool. Mbaye sneaked in behind defender Ayden Heaven to meet a low cross and convert a basic strike. The goal followed a defensive failure where Heaven failed to clear the ball after midfielder Mason Mount failed to defend the initial attack.
Manchester United suffered a setback inside 20 minutes when Mount clutched his foot and was withdrawn from the match. Mount jogged off unassisted and consulted with three members of United's medical team before walking down the tunnel. Academy product Tyler Fletcher came on as his replacement in midfield.
Carrick clarified after the game that Mount was taken off as a precaution. "He got kicked. We just wanted to be careful and look after him. We've been lucky with injuries so far, so we wanted to be careful," Carrick said. The injury comes ahead of United's final two pre-season fixtures against Leeds United in Dublin on 12 August and AC Milan in Wroclaw on 15 August.
Manchester United reporter Nathan Salt stated that Mount's injury highlights the team's need for further midfield signings before the transfer deadline in three weeks and a couple of days.
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"Reliability matters. Inside 20 minutes here, clutching his foot, Mount had to go off, withdrawn and was replaced by academy product Tyler Fletcher. Mount jogged off unassisted, sought advice from three members of United's medical team before heading down the tunnel. It looked precautionary ahead of two final pre-season games against Leeds United in Dublin and AC Milan in Wroclaw," Salt said.
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"But it is also a warning that United cannot allow the next three weeks and a couple of days to pass between now and the transfer deadline without another midfielder signing walking through the door. That prospect has to now be inexplicable. United's recruitment in that area of the pitch has been good, too, this summer. Santos has been the star of pre-season and Youri Tielemans, who got 25 minutes on debut off the bench, could prove the steal of the summer at £35m. Taking a big swing, the biggest of the lot most likely, should be a pressure Ineos and the bosses at United must relish, not be afraid of," Salt added.
Equaliser and Amad Diallo Impact
Manchester United equalised in the 32nd minute through Mbeumo. The goal was created by 24-year-old Ivorian winger Amad Diallo, who pressed the Paris Saint-Germain defence, recovered possession, and played a decisive pass for Mbeumo to slot home.
Diallo was the source of United's best attacking moves throughout the match, continuing to develop a strong partnership with Mbeumo. Sources at Manchester United privately stressed that Diallo was never at risk of being moved on and remains an integral part of the squad. Prior to setting up Mbeumo, Diallo had recorded only one assist for United in this calendar year.
Salt praised Diallo's contribution to the performance and highlighted his work rate on the pitch.
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"Hats off to Amad. Significant questions were asked of the Ivorian to the point where sources at United were eager to privately stress that he was never at risk of being moved on and remains an integral part of the group. After a promising 45 minutes in Stockholm against Atletico Madrid, this was another big step in the right direction by Amad," Salt said.
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"It was his tenacity that stood out, the pressure he put on PSG's defenders and that was the origin of United's equalising goal when he closed down the ball, recovered possession and was decisive in playing in Mbeumo, who slotted away. Amad can do a lot well that won't show up on the stats sheet but he is under no illusion that goals and assists have to improve. Prior to this assist for Mbeumo, Amad had just one United assist to his name in this calendar year, simply nowhere near a player of his ability should be. If United are to hit the heights Amad wants, he will need to be at his very best. There were flashes here to suggest the 24-year-old absolutely has the bit between his teeth," Salt added.
Tactical Pressing and Squad Options
United displayed aggressive tactics out of possession under Carrick, at times using a high press with six players in the final third. United also used a zonal press in a 4-4-2 formation with Shea Lacey making his third straight start as a number 10 alongside Mbeumo. Paris Saint-Germain started winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, while Manchester United named Bruno Fernandes on the bench.
Salt pointed to United's pressing structure as a key positive from the match.
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"One of the most encouraging signs across United's pre-season is actually the bravery out of possession, rather than in it. PSG, no matter how many players were rotated, are so well drilled and have so many great players on the periphery that avoiding defeat against them is no mean feat," Salt said.
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"So to see Carrick setting his side up with such an aggressive high press, at times showing six players in the final third to press, will inject plenty of belief into supporters. Other times we saw a zonal press in a 4-4-2 with Shea Lacey, making a third straight start, again as a No 10, right up alongside Mbeumo. Pre-season and competitive Premier League action are naturally different, but the signs are there. Be brave, and you'll get success. Now it's over to United's hierarchy to show that same aggression in the transfer market," Salt added.
Carrick Assessment and Player Debuts
United midfielder Youri Tielemans made his debut off the bench, playing 25 minutes after joining United in a 35 million pound transfer. Fellow midfielder Santos has also impressed as the star of United's pre-season campaign.
Carrick gave his verdict on the performance in an interview with MUTV after the match.
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"I enjoyed it. Good challenges, slightly different from the way they play compared to what we had. Should've scored more goals. The boys adapted really well; lots of positives to take from the game," Carrick said.
The United manager noted that the squad gained valuable problem-solving experience against European opposition.
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"I enjoyed it. It's good, sometimes, for the boys to have to problem solve and figure it out. In that respect, there are things that people maybe don't see that we're happy with," Carrick added.
Fan Reaction and Remaining Fixtures
Supporters reacted to the match result following the final whistle in Gothenburg. UK fan Brendan expressed enthusiasm for the team's performance.
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"We’ve just held the Champions League holders! We are back, baby! Carrick's Champions has a nice ring to it, and I can’t wait for this season to get going proper now!" Brendan said.
US fan Sai commented on individual player performances during the draw.
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"Diallo, Lacey and Fletcher have played well. Dorgu is too careless while Heaven failed to clear the ball for the goal due to Mount's failure to defend," Sai said.
Manchester United will complete their pre-season schedule with two remaining matches. Carrick's side face Leeds United in Dublin on 12 August before playing AC Milan in Wroclaw on 15 August.
