Manchester United Draw with Everton Despite Winning Summer Series Title

Manchester United’s pre-season campaign in the United States concluded with a 2–2 draw against Everton last night at the Mercedes‑Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Despite the stalemate, United secured the Premier League Summer Series trophy, finishing top of the group with 7 points.

Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring with a first-half penalty after James Tarkowski fouled Amad Diallo inside the box, giving United a 1–0 lead around the 19th minute. Everton responded with Iliman Ndiaye, who converted a cross from Idrissa Gueye to level before halftime. In the second half, Mason Mount, introduced as a substitute, curled in a magnificent strike from Fernandes’ pass, restoring United’s lead in the 69th minute. The match ended level when Amad Diallo’s clearance deflected off Ayden Heaven into his own net, handing Everton a quirky equaliser just before the final quarter.

Bryan Mbeumo made his Manchester United debut after joining from Brentford in a £71m move. Despite playing only 45 minutes, he impressed with his movement, creativity, and understanding with new teammates Matheus Cunha and Amad Diallo. Mason Mount was a difference-maker off the bench and delivered a key goal. In contrast, Manuel Ugarte had a poor outing, losing possession and struggling to meet the required standards, contributing to defensive instability.

Bruno Fernandes voiced frustration with United’s overall performance, branding it "lazy" and stressing the need for further reinforcements to build competitive depth. He also reflected on last season’s disappointing 15th‑place finish in the Premier League. Manager Ruben Amorim echoed those concerns. He highlighted defensive vulnerabilities—particularly against long balls—and characterised the performance as unacceptable. Despite the club securing the Summer Series title, Amorim said there is still "a lot of work to be done" before the Premier League opener against Arsenal on 17 August 2025.

The match also saw tensions flare as Fernandes and Ndiaye got involved in a midfield altercation, which escalated into a minor scuffle and resulted in yellow cards for both players, further distracting United's defensive cohesion.

Manchester United wrapped up their U.S. tour with the Summer Series title, but questions remain over squad cohesion and defensive solidity. With the Premier League season set to begin against Arsenal on 17 August, the club will look to add players and sharpen preparations in the coming weeks.