Rio Ferdinand has singled out one Manchester United player for offering “something different” after the opening day defeat against Arsenal.
Manchester United suffered a 1-0 defeat against Arsenal in the first game of the season. A howler from Altay Bayindir gifted the Gunners three points, with the Turkey international conceding directly from a corner kick for the second time in two seasons.
It wasn’t the start to the season Ruben Amorim wanted, as it puts United on the back foot going into this week’s game against Fulham, but many would argue that the Red Devils deserved more from the game.
United dominated possession and accumulated 22 shots, but like last season, they were not clinical enough to find the back of the net. New signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo impressed, while Benjamin Sesko only had 20 minutes on the pitch as a substitute.
Despite not getting the desired result, United fans can take a lot of positives from the game.
Mason Mount giving instructions to Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Mason Mount impresses Rio Ferdinand
After revamping the attacking department throughout the summer, Amorim was expected to start an almost entirely new front three.
Cunha and Mbeumo impressed on their debuts alongside Mason Mount, who got the nod to start after a series of promising performances during pre-season.
Mount earned high praise from former United defender Rio Ferdinand for his convincing display against Arsenal.
More United News
On his YouTube channel, Ferdinand explained that Mount can bring ‘something different’ to United’s team.
Ferdinand said: “I really like what I saw from Mason Mount today. Again, in and out of possession. We all know what he can do in and around the box. He can score goals, he can create as well, but he’s out of possession.
“His ability and his intelligence to move and to run when we have the ball, when we don’t have the ball, I think is something that’s different to everything else we’ve got.
“That’s why you’re going to see him play games, because he does bring something different.”
Amorim has a selection headache with so many options in the final third, which wasn’t the case last season.
The United head coach needs to discover his best XI in a 3-4-2-1 system after adding two new 10s in the summer along with new striker Sesko. Then there’s the likes of Mount, Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo.
Mount can have a greater impact this season
Even though there’s more competition for places, Mount can benefit from having a full pre-season tour.
It also helps that Amorim has made it clear since arriving at Old Trafford that he is a big admirer of Mount.
That means he will be trying to get the best out of Mount this season, so long as the England international can stay fit after suffering an array of injury setbacks in his first two seasons at United.
Mount made only 26 appearances for United last season, scoring three goals.
After starting the first game of the season, Mount should be aiming to make more appearances as well as add more goals and assists to his game.