Manchester United is possessing a quality attack with Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Marcus Rashford. However, this quartet still needs more time to form harmony and maximize their potential.
High concentration helps Mbeumo have enough time to launch a shot amidst the encirclement of Everton's defense. That was a moment with a strong personal mark, but it was also such situations that could make a difference for Man United.
Mbeumo's goal in the 47th minute showed the Cameroonian striker's ability to seize opportunities, although Man United's attack in general has not yet reached the necessary clarity.
This is the first time the "Red Devils" have in hand an attacking quartet including Fernandes, Cunha, Mbeumo and Rashford. Fernandes continues to play the role of conductor in the number 10 position, while the 3 players above are given more freedom to find space. They have enough technique, speed and ability to create breakthroughs, but the coordination is still not really smooth.
With the speed of the Premier League, just a moment of hesitation can make an attack lose a chance. Harmony cannot be formed just by quality or transfer fee. It needs to be accumulated over time playing together.
Matheus Cunha is a typical example. Michael Carrick is using the Brazilian striker as a false 9, allowing him to retreat deep and move wide to find space.
This was originally Cunha's playing style that was effective at Wolves, where he often received the ball in lower positions before dribbling and launching curling shots. However, when Fernandes often operated in similar areas, Cunha had to adjust his playing style. This sometimes caused Man United to lack a permanent striker in the penalty area.
Mbeumo also tends to curl into the center from the right wing instead of frequently moving close to the flanks and then making passes inside. Rashford has a more diverse handling ability when facing defenders and once caused Merlin Rohl many difficulties thanks to his speed and ability to change direction. However, such plays still do not appear often enough.
Man United controlled the ball more and continuously pushed Everton deep, but Jordan Pickford did not have to work too hard for most of the time.
Even Fernandes also had difficulty making decisive passes because his teammates did not always move according to his intentions. Many passes went into the gap but no one approached, even some combinations ended when the ball went out of bounds.
Of course, there were still times when Man United's attack played impressively. A cross towards the far post was headed by Mbeumo to Fernandes, before the Man United captain's volley hit the crossbar.
The positive point for Carrick is that Man United has many changes in the match. The starting quartet brings flexibility and the ability to create breakthroughs, while Patrick Dorgu and Sesko help them switch to a more direct, strength-oriented playing style.
Fernandes, Cunha, Mbeumo and Rashford all possess outstanding abilities, but outstanding individuals are not necessarily immediately creating a harmonious team. They need more time to play together to find the right rhythm.
