Man Utd
United Stagnate at Sunderland as Midfield Void Without Casemiro Goes Unanswered
United’s tame attack and midfield void without Casemiro left them exposed in a goalless draw again.
Manchester United produced a flat, goalless performance at the Stadium of Light, settling for a 0-0 draw that underlined a growing concern in midfield. Michael Carrick’s side were marginally better after the restart, but their tame attacking play left Sunderland largely untroubled and reliant on chances through a soft centre.
Carrick could rely on his defence to preserve a clean sheet, but the absence of Casemiro, who leaves the club at the end of the season, was evident. The Brazilian missed the game through a knock, and United were given a practical glimpse of life without their destructive defensive midfielder. Manuel Ugarte was also absent, so Carrick named Mason Mount alongside Kobbie Mainoo in a double pivot.
Mount did not provide the required defensive protection. In fairness, Mount is not a holding midfielder and was unsurprisingly bullied by more physical opponents, but the lack of resistance in midfield emphasised Casemiro’s value in providing balance. Sunderland exploited the Casemiro-shaped hole in the first half and kept consistent pressure on United.
Carrick adjusted at half time, moving Mainoo into the sole No. 6, pushing Mount further forward and asking Bruno Fernandes to drop slightly deeper. The tweak had limited effect as Sunderland continued to probe and create the better openings.
Player ratings reflected mixed individual displays. Senne Lammens earned redemption with an impressive all-round display between the posts and several timely saves. Noussair Mazraoui held firm against Chemsdine Talbi. Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martínez were largely steady at the back, while Luke Shaw produced another unflappable defensive outing. Up front, Joshua Zirkzee offered little in place of the injured Benjamin Šeško. Amad Diallo showed endeavour but surrendered possession too often. Matheus Cunha was quiet and missed late chances.
Substitutions brought fresh legs but little in the way of a decisive spark. The match ended level, with possession split 50-50, Sunderland xG 1.16 to United 0.57, and Sunderland enjoying 15 shots to United’s 11, including four on target to United’s one.
GK: Senne Lammens—8.9
RB: Noussair Mazraoui—8.2
CB: Harry Maguire—7.1
CB: Lisandro Martínez—7.4
LB: Luke Shaw—6.9
CM: Mason Mount—6.9
CM: Kobbie Mainoo—7.1
RW: Amad Diallo—6.4
AM: Bruno Fernandes—7.4
LW: Matheus Cunha—7.2
ST: Joshua Zirkzee—6.0
SUB: Patrick Dorgu (65’ for Zirkzee)—6.1
SUB: Bryan Mbeumo (75’ for Amad)—5.9
Subs not used: Altay Bayındır (GK), Diogo Dalot, Ayden Heaven, Leny Yoro, Tyrell Malacia, Jack Fletcher, Tyler Fletcher.
Man Utd
Mount setback underlines the midfield work still facing Manchester United
Mount’s injury record has put United’s midfield plans back under the microscope ahead of 2026-27.
Mason Mount’s latest injury issue has served as a sharp reminder that Manchester United are still not fully equipped in central midfield.
Since arriving from Chelsea in 2023, Mount has already missed 70 competitive United matches through injury. Much of that time has been lost to calf and hamstring problems, while his newest setback, according to BBC Sport, will keep him out of United’s latest preseason friendly against Leeds United. The problem stems from an awkward kick he took against Paris Saint-Germain last Saturday.
Carrick had initially described Mount’s substitution as precautionary, but the fact he has not trained before the Leeds fixture reinforces the need for United to keep moving in the summer market. Central midfield has clearly been a priority, and the suggested additions of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos would add technical quality, work rate and some of the attributes lost with Casemiro’s departure. Tielemans is not a natural holding midfielder, yet he can dictate from deep with his passing range. Santos brings more athleticism, carries the ball between the lines and can surge forward himself.
Even so, United still look short of a midfield disruptor, someone who can add bite alongside those options and the current pool of Kobbie Mainoo, Bruno Fernandes and, once fit, Manuel Ugarte.
Mount has shown enough in preseason to suggest he can still help, especially with Fernandes and Mainoo having extra time off after the World Cup, allowing him to operate in a deeper Tielemans-style role. But his wider record is difficult to ignore. He has now been sidelined on 10 separate occasions in three years at Old Trafford, which makes reliability a concern.
With United back in the Champions League, rotation and careful management of minutes will be required. Tyler Fletcher and Shea Lacey are emerging, but Carrick will still want experience to steady the first months of 2026-27. At minimum, United need a more complete midfielder, one with greater tackling power and game reading than Mount.
Among the names linked are Aurélien Tchouaméni, Manu Koné, Tyler Adams and Sander Berge. Yet Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba may be the return to an old target that United are most encouraged by, especially after his valuation eased from $133 million (£100 million) following an indifferent season.
Barcelona
Marcus Rashford’s latest Manchester United outing and what followed
Rashford is back at United, and his last appearance came in December 2024 against Viktoria Plzeň.
Marcus Rashford is back on Manchester United’s books, and the timing has brought fresh focus on how long it has been since he last played for the club. Barcelona allowed both the purchase option and release clause in Rashford’s contract to expire, opting instead to move for Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi. United manager Michael Carrick has since confirmed that the winger will rejoin training with his boyhood club during the next part of the summer tour of northern Europe.
Carrick, speaking after Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain, said: “I’ve played with him. I played in the game he made his debut, so we have a history,” Carrick said after Saturday’s 1–1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain. “We have got a full squad this week in Dublin. We fly straight there and have a few days where we have the whole group back together.
“Marcus is part of that, and Kobbie [Mainoo] and Lisandro [Martínez]. We look forward to seeing them.”
For supporters, Rashford’s return may take some adjustment, because his final appearance for United came some time ago. His most recent outing arrived against Viktoria Plzeň on Dec. 12, 2024, in the Europa League at the Doosan Arena in Plzeň, Czechia. He started as a second striker, positioned just behind Joshua Zirkzee, but found it difficult to influence the contest.
Rashford was withdrawn in the 56th minute, eight minutes after Plzeň had gone in front through Matěj Vydra. United then recovered, with Rasmus Højlund emerging as the decisive figure. The Danish forward, who has since left United for Napoli, scored soon after his introduction and added a second in the 88th minute to complete the comeback.
After that defeat, Rashford’s United career effectively stalled under then-manager Ruben Amorim. He was omitted from the squad for the Manchester derby against Manchester City three days later, although Amorim insisted the decision was not disciplinary. Rashford then stated that he was “ready for a new challenge.”
His absence continued for weeks, with more than 10 games missed and only one unused place on the bench. Amorim later said he would not choose any player unless he felt they were giving maximum effort every day.
A loan move to Aston Villa followed in February, giving Rashford a chance to reset. He produced a strong spell there, finishing with four goals and six assists in 17 appearances.
Man Utd
Anthony Martial’s rise and decline: from United’s record gamble to free agency
Martial’s United rise, role changes, injuries and release left a career that never matched its early promise.
Anthony Martial’s Manchester United story began with promise and ended with a sharp fall. When he arrived from Monaco in the summer of 2015, he was a surprise headline signing and a forward few outside France knew well. Yet the club paid heavily for his potential, with one add-on even linked to a Ballon d’Or win.
His background suggested a player built for the highest level. Born in the suburbs of Paris, Martial started out at Les Ulis before moving to Lyon at 14. He made his senior debut shortly after turning 17, then joined Monaco seven months later. In the principality, he progressed from the B team to the first team and eventually delivered 12 goals in 48 appearances in his second season.
United’s faith looked justified almost immediately. Martial scored on his debut against Liverpool with a solo run from the left, then followed that with two goals against Southampton. He also struck a stoppage-time winner against Everton in the FA Cup semifinal, helping set up the club’s first major trophy since Sir Alex Ferguson retired. That first campaign finished with 11 Premier League goals and 17 in all competitions.
But his role changed when new competition arrived. Zlatan Ibrahimović took his No. 9 shirt, and later Romelu Lukaku pushed him further from the centre of the attack. Martial had his moments, but his numbers fluctuated and his starts often gave way to substitute appearances.
There was a bright spell in 2019-20 under Ole Gunnar Solskjær. Used centrally, Martial produced 23 goals in all competitions and looked as though he had finally found the right platform. Instead, that proved to be his peak. His output dropped sharply afterwards, with injuries, fitness problems and a red card interrupting his rhythm.
Martial’s final United years brought a loan spell at Sevilla, where he failed to score in nine La Liga appearances, before his contract ended in 2024. Across his best two seasons at the club, he scored 40 goals in 97 matches, but his last four years produced only 19 in 95. A free transfer to AEK Athens brought seven goals in 16 Super League Greece appearances, though the limited number of games underlined how far his career had drifted.
