It has been a fruitful tour to the USA for Manchester United as they lifted the Premier League Summer Series trophy, and Omar Berrada is impressed with two players in particular.
The 2-2 draw against Everton wasn’t the way anyone at Man Utd would have wanted the tour to finish, but it saw them finish the three-game tournament unbeaten.
Bryan Mbeumo’s Man Utd debut was exciting, and Bruno Fernandes again showed that he is the one constant in the upheaval at the club.
Omar Berrada spoke to the club’s official media and reserved special praise, however, for two players for their overall display in pre-season.
Manuel Ugarte, Diego Leon of Manchester United in action during a first team training session
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Omar Berrada praises Matheus Cunha and Diego Leon
Matheus Cunha played as a No. 9 against Everton, and even though he didn’t get on the scoresheet, it was an encouraging display.
Diego Leon, on the other hand, didn’t come off the bench, but he has already earned Ruben Amorim’s trust and praise, and is set for a breakout year.
Cunha and Leon represent the best examples at both ends of the Ineos spectrum of signings. One is a proven Premier League player, and the other is an informed gamble on an exciting young talent.
Omar Berrada, speaking to Man Utd’s official website, praised Cunha for already showing his qualities, and namechecked Leon for how quickly he has adapted at Old Trafford.
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He said: “Matheus has already shown his quality and Diego has shown that he is adapting very quickly, having just come from Paraguay, so all of the signs are positive and we are cautiously optimistic. We hope we are going to have a great season.”
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Cunha, Leon, and Mbeumo have added to a professional group of players in a dressing room that has looked transformed in pre-season.
That vibe has reached Berrada as well, who added that the cultural reset driven by Amorim will be fruitful in the long term.
He said: “The mood has been very good. The culture, the standards, the values, we are trying to ensure that we create a team spirit that allows the players to compete at the highest level.
“We have very high standards, Ruben is very clear about that, and so is Jason [Wilcox]. It is something we want to see with the players, with the staff, with everyone, because what we want to do is to win and to start winning titles as soon as possible.”
That feeling has been echoed by the likes of Luke Shaw as well, who has been at the club under various managers.
He is feeling something different as well, and combined with Amorim’s history at Sporting after his first pre-season there, the expectations are high.