Ruben Amorim was pleased with what he saw from Bryan Mbeumo in Manchester United’s friendly with Everton, although admitted he has work to do ahead of the new season.
Mbeumo pulled on a Red Devils shirt for the first time and started the Premier League Summer Series contest in Atlanta on Sunday.
The match finished 2-2 with goals for United from Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount, while Iliman Ndiaye netted Everton’s first and an Ayden Heaven own goal completed the scoring.
After missing the previous two friendlies, the summer signing from Brentford was finally thrown into the action by Amorim, although only playing the first 45 minutes of the contest.
It was enough for the manager to be impressed by the Cameroon international, although Amorim said he needs more time to get up to speed physically and to adapt to the team’s style of play.
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‘I think he played well,’ said the Portuguese. ‘He needs to understand the position, the movements. But I think the first touch, the way he connect with one touch, opened a lot of space.
‘You can see that he’s not in the perfect condition, physically but he makes a lot of runs and that can stretch one team so everything that I was expecting, he delivered.’
Red Devils captain Bruno Fernandes was critical of the team’s performance in the draw, calling it ‘lazy’ and something that must be avoided in future.
‘We didn’t want to finish in this way,’ Fernandes said after the match in Georgia. ‘Our performance wasn’t the best today off the ball.
‘We looked a bit lazy today and we have to avoid that. It is improving [the club situation] but we are not where this club needs to be.’
Asked if his skipper was being a little harsh, Amorim told a post-match press conference: ‘I think I’m happy for the players to have that feeling. It’s a sign they understand the situation so it’s a good feeling.
‘Today we’re going to travel, one day off and then return to Carrington to work, understanding that in this club everything is ups and downs and big ups and downs. But I prefer that feeling than the other side.’
Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha remain the only two big signings for Manchester United so far this summer, while Paraguayan teenager Diego Leon has also arrived.
Further signings are expected, with the Red Devils heavily linked with a new centre-forward as they chase RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, but Amorim says he is happy with his squad as it is.
Man Utd pre-season results
19 Jul: 0-0 Leeds United
27 Jul: 2-1 West Ham
31 Jul: 4-1 Bournemouth
03 Aug: 2-2 Everton
‘One team can always improve with more players but we have players to make that competition,’ he said.
‘We need to improve as a team, we have potential to improve with our players and I’m really happy with the squad.’
Amorim’s side return to Manchester and have one more pre-season match to come against Fiorentina before they get their campaign underway against Arsenal on August 17.