Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United lifted the 2025 Premier League Summer Series trophy following a 2-2 draw with Everton in Atlanta.
In what was the Reds’ final US fixture before concluding pre-season duties at Old Trafford next weekend, those in attendance were treated to a typically Jekyll and Hyde showing.
Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring from the penalty spot after 19 minutes, following a James Tarkowski challenge on a visibly radiant Amad.
But, to their credit, Everton offered a determined resiliency and deservedly equalised through Iliman Ndiaye before the break.
Mason Mount came off the bench and added a second in the final quarter following a sublime piece of close control, before his no-look finish from inside the area underlined his undeniable quality.
Inevitably, the lead lasted six minutes when an attempted Amad clearance ricocheted off several bodies before finding the back of the net, courtesy of a helpless Ayden Heaven.
Although the usual suspects will respond in a typically unenthusiastic fashion, two wins and a draw seal the pre-season spoils for Amorim, ahead of a meeting with David de Gea and Fiorentina.
A difficult evening for Manchester United against a competitive Everton side
With the surface of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium laid last weekend, the shine mirrored the majesty of the arena. However, its artificial nature was telling as the ball struggled to maintain proper cohesion early on.
To the delight of a partisan crowd, Bryan Mbeumo made his long-awaited debut in a United shirt from the start, impressing within a front three containing Matheus Cunha and Bruno.
Although Everton offered ample physicality from the opening whistle, there was a continuation of the recognised ‘Sporting structure‘ throughout the opening quarter.
Cunha, playing as the furthest forward of the attacking trio, came close after five minutes following some dazzling interplay with Fernandes and Amad.
Notable throughout the opening half was an intensity from back to front, with a determination to reclaim possession following each misplaced pass. Heads did not drop, and morale appeared to be trending upwards.
That said, if the performances against West Ham and Bournemouth offered a sense of hope and optimism, the second half felt familiar to much of what we saw last season.
Play became heavily disjointed and was typified by a bewilderingly poor performance from Manuel Ugarte, with the Uruguayan enduring a forgettable evening in the middle of the field.
With David Moyes making a return to Atlanta following his 2019 Super Bowl appearance with Snoop Dogg, United lost their rhythm, and much of the restart was a dog-fight with a familiar domestic foe.
Amorim himself was critical of his side’s showing, addressing some of the micro details that require attention during the game while always highlighting the desire for more.
“When I think Ugarte has the ball, you can see the defence walking towards the box – so we need to sprint,” the 40-year-old said. “When Ugarte loses the ball, we need to be at least on the edge of the box. So these small details we have to improve.”
Still, when the tactician takes a step back and assesses the US trip as a whole, he’ll be happy with the general play across the three fixtures and a notable sense of structure on show throughout.
United return to the North West to continue preparations ahead of a Premier League opener against Arsenal, with Serie A side Fiorentina to provide one final tune-up on Saturday.
Remember, the vast majority of individuals who will overplay the significance of this pre-season excursion were quick to dismiss the positivity of the previous two.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments or across our socials.
Recent Posts
- The forgotten slow start to a glorious Manchester United campaign
- Manchester United officials retain confidence in Project 150 strategy
- Manchester United Supporters’ Club retain desire for change of ownership
