Manchester United have wrapped up their pre-season tour of the United States and will now return to the UK to continue preparations for the Premier League season.
United faced West Ham, Bournemouth, and Everton during the tour, winning their first two matches 2-1 and 4-1 respectively, before drawing 2-2 with Everton in their final game.
Overall, it was a promising trip that showed clear signs of improvement from last season.
New signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha were both involved, offering glimpses of what they could bring to the team.
However, Ruben Amorim has stressed that there’s still plenty of work to be done and warned against reading too much into pre-season results.
With that in mind, here are five things we learned from Manchester United’s pre-season tour.
1. Physical Conditioning
Last season, Manchester United often looked physically outmatched, struggling to compete aerially, losing ground duels, and lacking the stamina to maintain intensity over 90 minutes.
In modern football, physical sharpness is non-negotiable.
It underpins success in set pieces, defensive transitions, pressing, and winning duels to sustain possession.
Ruben Amorim recognised this shortcoming immediately and tailored summer training regime to address it.
The results were visible during pre-season.
United looked noticeably fitter, sharper, and more robust across the pitch.
While it’s still early days and only pre-season, the early signs are encouraging.
Amorim will be eager to see this physical improvement carry over into competitive matches once the Premier League kicks off.
2. Tactical Adaption and Fluidity
Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system has faced plenty of scrutiny since his arrival at Manchester United, with many doubting whether it would suit the squad or the demands of the Premier League.
Despite the criticism, Amorim remained committed to his base system, insisting that variation would only come once the players were fully drilled in the fundamentals.
During pre-season, we’ve started to see the first signs of that evolution.
Against Bournemouth in particular, the fluidity of the two No.10s was much improved.
Both players frequently dropped deeper and floated into pockets of space, aiding United’s build-up play while the opposition full-backs were pinned back by United’s wing-backs.
This created overloads in midfield and helped break down defensive blocks more effectively.
Additionally, Amorim also showed a willingness to adapt out of possession.
Against Bournemouth and Everton, United shifted into a 4-4-2 defensive shape, moving away from the 5-2-3 block used earlier in his tenure.
These tactical tweaks will be vital to Amorim’s success at Old Trafford and suggest a growing maturity in the team’s understanding of his system.
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3. Clear Improvement
After last season’s disastrous 15th-place finish, a significant step forward was non-negotiable.
While it’s early days, Manchester United already look sharper, more organised, and far more cohesive as a unit.
There’s a clearer identity to their play, and both defensively and in possession, the team seems to understand its roles better.
The unbeaten pre-season was a welcome sight and included performances that were controlled and confident, something rarely seen last season.
Importantly, there’s a growing sense of unity and belief in Amorim’s methods.
Still, pre-season is only a foundation.
The real challenge begins when the Premier League gets underway, and Amorim will be judged on whether these improvements hold up under pressure.
4. Still Work to be Done
Despite the progress, there are clear areas where Manchester United still need to improve, particularly in their build-up play.
Amorim’s current approach often sees a centre-back step into midfield while both wing-backs drop deep to receive the ball.
It has too often made United predictable and easy to press.
As a result, they’re frequently forced to go long, surrendering possession and control.
Amorim has continued to back this structure, but moving forward, United will need more variation in their deep build-up to consistently control games, especially against teams that press aggressively.
Off the ball, there are also issues.
Although Amorim has made changes to the team’s defensive shape, the spacing between units can still be poor.
At times, United are too easy to play through, with gaps appearing in midfield or between the lines.
The encouraging sign, however, is that Amorim appears fully aware of these problems and is actively trying to address them.
5. Signings Needed
While pre-season offered plenty of positives, it also exposed key areas where Manchester United still need reinforcements.
The club have been linked with a striker, a midfielder, and a goalkeeper and based on pre-season performances, all three additions appear essential.
Up front, Rasmus Hojlund remains United’s only established first-team striker.
His fitness and form will be crucial, but the lack of depth is a concern.
United are currently linked with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, and securing his signature would provide much-needed support and competition.
In midfield, both Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro struggled at times during the tour, frequently giving the ball away in dangerous areas.
With no clear solution at No.6, a composed and reliable holding midfielder is a priority before the season begins.
The goalkeeping situation is equally uncertain.
With Andre Onana out injured, Altay Bayındır and Tom Heaton rotated throughout pre-season.
Bayındır in particular struggled, most notably against Everton, raising doubts about his readiness.
Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens has been linked, and a new signing in that position could be crucial.
If United can secure all three targets before the window closes, they’ll give themselves a far better platform for success in the season ahead.
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