Ruben Amorim admits Manchester United lack pace after Leeds draw

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim admitted the club lacked pace after a goalless draw against Leeds United. The Portuguese manager said the Red Devils need to be better in the final third in the upcoming season.

United netted 44 goals in the last season in the Premier League and they were not at their best against Leeds. The Old Trafford-based club also played new signing Matheus Cunha after his £62.5 million ($83.8m) move from Wolves.

Amorim told MUTV: “We have a lack of pace. Especially in the middle of the park, you can feel it’s hard to bring the ball.

“We created chances. We have a lot to do but it was a first test against a Premier League team with two different teams, a good test.

“Matheus Cunha showed what we need, a player in between the lines who is really aggressive. We watched that during last season for a different team. We expect the same thing.

“You can see the connection with him and Bruno Fernandes is still not there. But it will be a good connection, because you can put a player like Kobbie Mainoo or Mason Mount there. We need to increase our quality in the final third.”

Amorim said the team’s morale is really high despite the draw against United.

“The environment is really good, of course sometimes we are going to struggle, but what I felt in the first moment is that if we are going to struggle, we will struggle together,” he added.

“That is the beginning of everything, then we have to put the quality.

“This club is not just about the effort, it’s about the quality — we have to win games.”

Manchester United will aim to tick the right boxes in the preseason to prepare in the best possible manner. United will next take on West Ham on Saturday.