Manchester United were held to a draw by Leeds United on Sunday afternoon at Elland Road as Ruben Amorim’s team continues to struggle to find momentum.
It was a frustrating afternoon for Rúben Amorim and Manchester United at Elland Road as the Reds had to settle for a point on the road.
The match got off to a fiery start, with United matching Leeds’ intensity and holding firm in the first 20 minutes. Both Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Matheus Cunha came close to scoring, but neither team could break the deadlock before half-time.
The second half mirrored the first, until Leeds finally broke through courtesy of Brenden Aaronson. United struck back almost immediately, with Cunha restoring parity for Rúben Amorim’s side with 25 minutes remaining.
In the final stages, both sides pressed for a winner, but chances were limited, leading to neither side being able to find a winner.
Hargreaves opens up on Cunha
Former Manchester United player Owen Hargreaves has opened up on Cunha’s performances so far in a United shirt following Sunday’s encounter at Elland Road, explaining that he’s finally seeing the Brazilian becoming much more efficient with his decision making.
“He’s a fabulous football player, but actually sometimes you don’t need him to be the fabulous football player, you just need him to be the finisher.
“They’re missing Bruno Fernandes by far, their best player. Obviously, Bruno and Amad, they’re missing those guys, so they need him to step up with the goals and assists, and I thought today he stepped up in a huge moment.
“[Before] that point, I didn’t think he had his… I think he was trying to do too much, trying to carry the ball, because he’s a great ball carrier, but actually just making that running behind in the finish is what helped him get a point today.”
Man Utd miss Bryan Mbeumo
Hargreaves’ comments really show how much Manchester United miss Bryan Mbeumo, because the Cameroonian has the exact skillset Hargreaves described United need from Cunha.
Read More: Player Ratings – Leeds 1-1 Manchester United (Premier League)
Mbeumo is the only player United have who can reliably make runs in behind and stretch opposition teams to create space in between the lines for players like Cunha and Joshua Zirkzee, who thrive there.
He may not be as pleasing on the eye as Cunha, but Mbeumo is a player who steps up in big moments with decisive goals. He is productive and United’s biggest goal threat, along with Fernandes.
Mbeumo’s absence has emphasised just how important he is, and United should dip into the market for a player of a similar profile to reduce how reliant they are on him. United have enough players who thrive between the lines. They now need another player who can make runs in behind.
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