Manchester United secured their third Premier League victory in a row last night, after beating high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion 4-2 at Old Trafford.
Ruben Amorim managed to mastermind yet another triumph, with such a result seeing the Red Devils rise to fourth in the table ahead of this afternoon’s outings.
Such a result saw the 40-year-old make new history in his tenure in England, subsequently securing three wins in a row for the first time since taking the reins last November.
Numerous players managed to thrive in the victory, undoubtedly securing their place in Amorim’s starting eleven for the immediate and long-term future.
However, two players will likely receive most of the credit from the fanbase after catching the eye with their respective performances against Fabian Hurzeler’s men.
The impact of Mbeumo & Cunha against Brighton
After his £71m transfer from Brentford during the summer transfer window, huge expectations were placed on the shoulders of Bryan Mbeumo to provide the goods within attacking areas.
The Cameroonian has certainly done just that over the last couple of weeks, as seen with his showing against the Seagulls, which saw him net two goals in the triumph.
His underlying stats further showcase his impressive display, with his tally of two chances created and four dribbles completed the most of any player on the pitch at Old Trafford.
Mbeumo wasn’t alone in thriving, with Matheus Cunha also partnering the big-money addition in the final third yesterday after his own £62.5m transfer this summer.
Like the Cameroonian, he also managed to find the back of the net during the victory, finally scoring his first goal for the Red Devils at the ninth attempt.
Other stats, such as 89% passes completed and two successful dribbles, highlight his impressive work in the final third – subsequently forming an impressive partnership with Mbeumo.
However, despite the showings of the aforementioned duo, one other United player is deserving of huge credit for his performance against the Seagulls at Old Trafford.
The United star who was the shining light against Brighton
After losing 3-1 against Brentford back at the end of September, very few United fans could have predicted the huge recent upturn in form under Amorim.
The 40-year-old has seemingly found the winning formula with his 3-4-2-1 system – a formation that has often led to huge questions during his tenure at the helm.
Mbeumo and Cunha have evidently cemented their places in the number ten roles behind the striker – doing so to excellent effect, as seen by their goals yesterday.
However, Amorim’s arrival has also injected a new lease of life into numerous other first-team players, with Amad Diallo just one example of a player who’s taken his career to the next level under his guidance.
The Ivorian was often an impact player under Erik ten Hag, but he’s since cemented his place as a regular starter in the Red Devils’ side over the last 12 months.
He’s often had to operate in a somewhat unfamiliar role in recent months, usually starting in a right wing-back role rather than his preferred attacking position.
However, Amad has taken to the position like a duck to water, often thriving in such a role as seen in the convincing victory over Brighton at Old Trafford yesterday.
The 23-year-old featured for 70 minutes of the contest and completed 100% of the dribbles he attempted, along with a 100% success rate for long balls completed.
He also completed 23 passes during his performance, four of which were into the final third of the pitch – also being desperately unlucky not to win a penalty.
Minutes played
70
Touches
41
Passes completed
23
Passes into final third
4
Dribbles completed
100%
Long balls completed
100%
Recoveries made
4
Interceptions made
1
However, out of possession, he was just as impressive, subsequently making four recoveries and one interception which helped Amorim’s side secure all three points.
As a result of his showing, the Ivorian was handed an impressive 7/10 match rating by The Express journalist Archie Griggs – further highlighting his superb performance in the win.
There’s little doubt that Cunha and Mbeumo will take the majority of the credit for their performances, but some of the praise certainly needs to be directed Amad’s way.
It’s safe to say the 23-year-old has become a key figure in Amorim’s plans, with the manager deserving massive amounts of credit for his ability to utilise the youngster to his full potential.
