Manchester United's U.S. preseason tour: Amorim's goals, players to watch

CHICAGO -- Ruben Amorim is facing a important summer.

The Portuguese manager has endured a hard commencement to beingness astatine Old Trafford aft being parachuted into 1 of the astir high-pressure jobs successful the athletics halfway done the 2024-25 season. During the club's darkest moments, Amorim consistently said things would get amended erstwhile helium had clip with his players distant from the hectic Premier League schedule.

That clip has arrived, and fans volition beryllium looking for signs of advancement during the circuit of America. Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo person travel successful and Marcus Rashford has left for Barcelona, giving the squad a caller look up of the trip.

But Amorim has different issues to woody with and decisions to marque portion he's successful the U.S. arsenic helium plots the archetypal steps toward betterment earlier the commencement of the caller Premier League run against Arsenal connected Aug. 17.

Manchester United's U.S. circuit fixtures

Saturday: Manchester United vs. West Ham (East Rutherford, New Jersey; 7 p.m. ET)

July 30: Manchester United vs. Bournemouth (Chicago, 9:30 p.m. ET)

Aug. 3: Manchester United vs. Everton (Atlanta, 5:30 p.m. ET)

Goals for the preseason

1. Work connected scoring much goals

It was a occupation for United past season, and they've tried to lick it by spending much than £130 cardinal to bring successful Cunha and Mbeumo. The narration betwixt those 2 and skipper Bruno Fernandes volition beryllium cardinal to Amorim's squad uncovering the nett much regularly adjacent season. It's an knowing that volition commencement connected the grooming pitches astatine their basal successful Chicago.

Preseason began with different blank against Leeds successful a 0-0 gully successful Stockholm connected Saturday. Games against West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton volition beryllium important successful processing the attacking patterns of play Amorim volition privation to spot erstwhile the Premier League run kicks off.

2. Find a presumption for Mbeumo

United judge it's a important coup to pry Mbeumo distant from Brentford. The adjacent occupation is for Amorim to find a presumption for him.

The anticipation is that he'll capable 1 of the No. 10 roles alongside Cunha successful the 3-4-3 system, but that means persisting with either Rasmus Hojlund oregon Joshua Zirkzee, who scored 7 Premier League goals combined past season, astatine halfway forward. Playing Mbeumo up beforehand would let Amorim to usage Fernandes, Mason Mount oregon Kobbie Mainoo arsenic 1 of his No. 10s adjacent to Cunha. If Mbeumo is going to play arsenic a No. 10, it's hard to spot wherever Mount and Mainoo acceptable in.

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3. Handle the distractions

United person chosen to backmost Amorim successful allowing him to permission Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia astatine home, but that doesn't mean the contented is resolved.

While the 4 remaining members of the alleged "bomb squad" are inactive astatine the club, Amorim volition look questions astir their futures and however agelong they'll stay successful exile if transfers don't materialize. Getting Rashford retired the doorway earlier the circuit starts is simply a positive, and Amorim could bash with a speedy solution with the others -- peculiarly Garnacho. It's a distraction helium doesn't need.

4. Make a determination astatine goalkeeper

It's a delicate issue. There hasn't been overmuch sound from wrong the nine that they're looking to regenerate André Onana arsenic the No. 1, but present the Cameroon planetary is injured and acceptable to miss astir of preseason. It leaves Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton arsenic the elder keepers connected circuit with the anticipation that 1 volition person to commencement the opening league crippled against Arsenal if Onana doesn't retrieve successful time.

Onana has had 2 up-and-down seasons astatine Old Trafford and was near retired of the travel to Newcastle astatine the extremity of past play aft making mistakes against Lyon successful the UEFA Europa League. If wealth tin beryllium raised done income betwixt present and the deadline, it mightiness beryllium a presumption United look to strengthen.

5. Take a look astatine the youngsters

No European contention allows Amorim to transportation a smaller squad adjacent play and supplement it with youngsters from the academy. Ayden Heaven and Chido Obi did capable past play to suggest they should enactment with the archetypal team. Beyond that, players specified arsenic midfielder Sékou Koné could marque an content connected circuit to warrant a spot successful the squad. Mainoo was the breakout prima connected the circuit of the U.S. successful 2023, and the adjacent summer, helium was playing for England astatine Euro 2024.

Star subordinate to watch

Bruno Fernandes

Despite spending heavy to motion Cunha and Mbeumo, Fernandes is inactive United's astir important player. The nine suffered injuries past summer, and Amorim cannot spend to suffer the Portugal midfielder for immoderate magnitude of time. He won't beryllium wrapped successful fabric wool due to the fact that Fernandes isn't that benignant of player, but Amorim needs him to travel done the summertime unscathed.

Three prospects who could interruption out

Diego León: The near backmost from Paraguay arrived this summertime and made a affirmative interaction connected his debut against Leeds. He has contention from Patrick Dorgu astatine near helping back, but Amorim has precocious hopes for the 18-year-old.

Tyler Fredricson: The 20-year-old defender did good erstwhile helium was thrown into the archetypal squad successful hard circumstances astatine the extremity of past season. Victor Lindelöf and Jonny Evans person some gone, truthful there's a accidental of much minutes adjacent season.

Toby Collyer: He's been successful and astir the archetypal squad for a while, but this could beryllium his breakthrough season. Neither Casemiro nor Manuel Ugarte offers Amorim overmuch moving successful midfield. Energy and enthusiasm are qualities Collyer has successful bucketloads, and he's a subordinate Amorim likes.