Manchester United played to a 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain in a friendly match in Gothenburg, a result overshadowed by an injury to midfielder Mason Mount. Mount, who joined United from Chelsea in 2023, lasted less than 20 minutes on the field before being replaced.
The 27-year-old midfielder appeared to sustain a foot injury in Sweden. Following discussions with coaches, Mount left the pitch, with Tyler Fletcher coming on as his replacement. Mount has faced recurring injury issues since his arrival at Old Trafford, limiting him to 54 league appearances, many of which were as a substitute, during his first three seasons with the club. One report indicates he has been restricted to 31 league appearances during his first two seasons, with many as a substitute.
At the time of Mount’s injury, United were trailing 1-0 after Ibrahim Mbaye scored for PSG in the second minute. Despite missing several key players, the French side took an early lead. However, Bryan Mbeumo equalised for United in the 32nd minute, assisted by Amad Diallo, who had won the ball back.
Additional Injury Concerns and Squad Updates
United faced further injury worries early in the second half when 40-year-old goalkeeper Tom Heaton suffered a right hamstring problem. Heaton was injured while rushing out for a clearance and was subsequently replaced by Dermot Mee.
Mbeumo had opportunities to score another goal, but Matvey Safonov of PSG made some notable saves. Safonov later drew jeers from the crowd after a collision with Joshua Zirkzee outside his area, an incident that might have led to a different outcome in a competitive fixture.
Manager Michael Carrick expressed contentment with aspects of the game, telling MUTV that it was a good challenge for the team. He noted that the players had to problem-solve, which he believes prepares them for the upcoming season. Carrick also mentioned that there were positive signs that might not always be apparent to observers.
Youri Tielemans, a summer signing, made his debut for United in Gothenburg, playing for the final 26 minutes of the match. He linked up effectively with captain Bruno Fernandes, which is seen as an encouraging sign for Carrick.
Upcoming Fixtures and Squad Availability
Carrick confirmed that a full squad will be available for the upcoming friendly against Leeds in Dublin. This includes Kobbie Mainoo, Lisandro Martinez, Marcus Rashford, and Matheus Cunha. Rashford has not played for United since December 12, 2024, having spent time on loan at Aston Villa and Barcelona.
United have two more friendly matches scheduled before the start of their Premier League campaign. They will face rivals Leeds in Dublin on Wednesday, followed by a match against AC Milan in Wroclaw three days later. Their Premier League season is set to begin away to newly promoted Hull City on August 22.
Carrick admitted he needed to be careful with Mount, stating that the player was kicked and the team wanted to look after him. Post-match video footage showed Mount walking freely onto the team bus without any visible protective gear.
The manager highlighted that the team had been fortunate with injuries so far and wished to maintain caution. The latest injury to Mount serves as a reminder to Carrick about the potential need for additional midfield cover this season. While Tielemans and Andrey Santos have been signed for a combined £90million, the departure of Casemiro and an injury to Manuel Ugarte mean that United’s midfield depth has not significantly increased.
United will play Leeds in Dublin on Wednesday.
Source: theguardian.com
