Manchester United kicked off the first of their five pre-season fixtures with a goalless draw against Leeds in Stockholm, as Ruben Amorim’s men failed to break down their historic rivals
Manchester United began their preparation for the 2025/26 campaign with a goalless draw with Premier League rivals Leeds United in Sweden, with United fans getting their first glimpses of Matheus Cunha and Diego Leon in a United shirt.
Leeds started the game on the front foot, pressuring Amorim’s side, but United eventually got themselves in the game, and started to get on the ball more. Their best football came in the last ten minutes of the first half, and the deadlock was almost broken when Cunha, who showed flashes of brilliance, looked set to run onto and finish a chance after great build-up play, only for Chido Obi to snatch the ball and see his effort roll wide of the goal.
Amorim completely turned over his side going into the second half of the match, with the likes of Kobbie Mainoo, Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu and Rasmus Højlund being introduced.
In total, 24 players got the opportunity to prove their worth to Amorim, and in the second half, United looked much more composed. Despite that, neither side managed to find the net, and the opener ended in a rather disappointing 0-0 draw.
Mainoo shows promise during Leeds clash
Coming on for the second half in Sweden, Mainoo helped to compose his side after the break, as United looked much more likely to score in the second half than the first.
With a 100% long pass completion, 86% pass completion, and three passes into the final third, Mainoo looked the most likely to unlock Leeds’ stalwart defence, and almost did towards the end of the game, as he saw his header from a corner smash off of the crossbar.
Speaking on MUTV, Ronny Johnsen praised the 20-year-old and suggested that he may be able to break back into the starting team next season.
“He showed again today that he’s got the ability and the hunger to make an impact. Hopefully, this performance gives him a platform to build on going into the season, helping him gain confidence,” the ex-United defender said.
“We’ll see what happens, but who knows—maybe he secures a spot in the starting lineup. Fingers crossed.”
Mainoo needs to stay at United
There is no doubt about the Englishman’s talent, with the young midfielder having already established himself as a regular for both United and his country before the age of 20.
Mainoo’s contract expires in 2027, and a lack of progress regarding a contract extension has been a cause for concern regarding his future at the club.
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There have been reports that contract talks are slowly progressing, with hope that a compromise can be reached. Mainoo’s primary demand is reportedly that he wants to know where his future lies within Amorim’s current system.
However, with the player entering into the penultimate season of his current contract, there is a slight worry that if a new deal is not sorted this summer, United may need to cash in on the player to make sure they can receive money for him before his value starts to drop dramatically.
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