Three things we learnt as Man Utd hold PSG in Gothenburg
Manchester United continued their unbeaten pre-season run with a 1-1 draw against Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg.
Bryan Mbeumo cancelled out Ibrahim Mbaye’s early opener, while Youri Tielemans made his United debut during the second half.
Mason Mount and Tom Heaton were both forced off injured, but Michael Carrick will still take several positives from a useful test against the back-to-back European champions.
Here are three things we learnt from the draw.
Mbeumo has quickly become one of United’s standout performers during pre-season.
The forward scored twice against Atletico Madrid last weekend before finding the net again against PSG.
United fell behind after only two minutes in Gothenburg, but Mbeumo responded in the 32nd minute after Amad created the opening.
ReadManUtd’s match report highlighted Mbeumo’s third goal in two games, continuing an encouraging run as the Premier League season approaches.
His finishing is important, but so is the variety he gives Carrick.
Mbeumo can play centrally or from the right and has shown that he can attack space behind defenders as well as combine with Amad and United’s other forwards.
Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko were unavailable against PSG, meaning Carrick still has several attacking pieces to bring back into the side.
Mbeumo already looks ready.
Tielemans gives Carrick a different midfield option
Youri Tielemans only played part of the second half, but his first appearance offered an early glimpse of what he can add.
The Belgian joined United from Aston Villa for around £35million but had been given additional time away following Belgium’s World Cup campaign.
ReadManUtd confirmed Tielemans’ arrival last month, with United identifying the 29-year-old as an important part of Carrick’s midfield rebuild.
His debut now gives Carrick another experienced option alongside Andrey Santos and Bruno Fernandes.
Santos has already enjoyed plenty of minutes during pre-season and started again against PSG, while Tielemans should become increasingly involved as his fitness improves.
United still have questions to answer in midfield, particularly following Manuel Ugarte’s injury, but Carrick now has different profiles available.
Tielemans can control possession from deeper areas while also carrying a threat with his passing further forward.
That should give United more flexibility once the competitive games begin.
There was plenty to like about United’s response against PSG. The opening two minutes were far less encouraging.
Mbaye gave PSG an immediate lead and United were once again forced to chase the game rather than control it from the start.
Against pre-season opposition, there is time to recover. Premier League matches will not always be so forgiving.
Carrick will also be concerned by the fitness problems that followed.
Mount went off after only 19 minutes with what appeared to be a foot problem, while Heaton was also unable to finish the game.
The Standard reported that both players were forced off against PSG, adding to a squad already missing several senior options.
United showed character after the early setback and were competitive against one of Europe’s strongest sides.
The next step is avoiding the setback in the first place.
With the new season approaching, Carrick will want United to begin games with the same intensity they showed after falling behind in Gothenburg.
James Chettle is a journalism graduate from the University of Liverpool with a strong passion for football and digital sports media. A lifelong Chelsea supporter, James manages dedicated social media pages for fellow Blues fans, giving him a close understanding of supporter culture and the conversations that matter most to audiences. Alongside his Chelsea-focused work, he writes across the Dave.Sport network, covering West Ham United, Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Manchester United. His journalism spans breaking news, transfers, match analysis and the wider stories shaping clubs across the Premier League.
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