Ruben Amorim admitted that Manchester United struggled in one area in their friendly against Fiorentina and that should worry one player in particular.
Manchester United wrapped up their pre-season schedule back in England, a week before facing Arsenal in their Premier League opener.
Before kick-off, new arrival Benjamin Šeško was presented to the Old Trafford crowd, but Fiorentina struck early as Simon Sohm found space in the box to score inside ten minutes.
United levelled on 25 minutes when Bruno Fernandes’ corner forced Robin Gosens to put the ball into his own net. Bryan Mbeumo’s teasing crosses created openings for Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven, but the sides went in at half-time locked at 1-1.
The hosts dominated after the break, with late substitutions sparking further momentum. Matheus Cunha, Mason Mount, and Amad all threatened, yet the game went to penalties.
Altay Bayındır saved Fiorentina’s fourth spot-kick from Fabiano Parisi, allowing Kobbie Mainoo to convert the decisive effort and seal the Snapdragon Cup.
Amorim admits United struggled in one area vs Fiorentina
United’s attacking play was not as fluid as we witnessed during the pre-season clashes in the United States and that would have partly been down to the personnel.
Amorim decided to operate without a natural no.9 and instead started Mount in the position before Cunha ended the game there.
The United boss admitted that this led to United ‘struggling’ at points due to the lack of an out-ball during the Fiorentina press.
He also hinted afterwards that Šeško, who was watching the game in the stands, could provide a solution to that problem.
“In some moments I felt that we need, because of the one against one in all of the pitch, we struggled without a reference as a striker,” Amorim told club media.
“We have a new player, so we’ll see.”
Højlund should be concerned
With the game being pretty drab across the 90 minutes, it was unsurprising to see that one of the main talking points afterwards was the fact that Rasmus Højlund was an unused substitute.
The Dane has received constant backing from Amorim since his arrival despite disappointing form but now with a new striker at the club, it seems like the United boss sent a sly dig at him.
United are open to selling Højlund but he wants to stay at the club. Amorim’s actions may be a slight nudge to the 22-year-old that he should probably be looking for minutes elsewhere.
Højlund should be concerned heading into a campaign with a World Cup at the end of it. Despite his desire to stay, he will be questioning whether he can get minutes in the team over Šeško and Joshua Zirkzee.
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