Manchester United have a reputation for picking up relatively unknown talents and turning them into household names. The Red Devils have always relied on youth, and it is a strategy that INEOS has also invested in since taking charge. While some youngsters, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, have worked wonders, there have been others who failed to live up to the hype. One player who raised a lot of eyebrows and subsequently failed to deliver was Bebe. The former Portugal Under-21 international was United’s surprise signing in the summer of 2010. Bebe’s time at the Theatre of Dreams, however, was far from rosy, as the player struggled to come to terms with the rigours of the English top flight. United summer transfers: 2010/11 Season PlayerPositionAgeNat.From ClubLeague BebéLeft Winger20Cape Verde / PortugalVitória Guimarães SCLiga Portugal Chris SmallingCentre-Back20England / JamaicaFulham FCPremier League ChicharitoCentre-Forward22MexicoDeportivo Guadalajara (Chivas)Liga MX Apertura Anders LindegaardGoalkeeper26DenmarkAalesunds FKEliteserien Source: Transfermarkt. He spent most of his time out on loan, before leaving permanently to join Benfica in the summer of 2014. By then, the Cape Verde international had registered just seven appearances for the Red Devils, scoring two goals. Bebe has now reflected on his time with United. No regrets about joining United Speaking to Flashscore, Bebe insisted that he has no regrets about joining United. He said: “I went to England, where, when I arrived, it was considered one of the best teams in the world. It was very difficult for a 21-year-old kid to adapt to the country on his own, and it was very difficult for me.” “I don’t regret it, because things don’t happen twice. Luck doesn’t knock on your door twice. But I think I needed a bit more experience, a bit more games played that I didn’t have yet, but these are experiences that remain with me.” “I learned a lot with a lot of players, with the coach and these are experiences that I keep. As I didn’t have so much experience, I think it took me a while to adapt, but I think that if I had stayed in Portugal playing for one or two more seasons, I would have arrived in a different way, but things happen for a reason, and I don’t regret it.” Bebe’s only goals for United came against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League and against Bursaspor in the Champions League, both in the 2010/11 season. Proud of working under Sir Alex Ferguson The 35 year old went on to speak fondly about legendary United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. He said: “The day-to-day with me was very good. From the moment I arrived, the first year was a very interesting year because he looked after me a lot. He was always looking after me, he treated me very well during the time I was there.” “The first house I went to, I rented it from him, I stayed in his flat. He looked after me a lot, he gave me a lot of advice on what to do and what not to do.” “He always told me to look at the more experienced players, both on a day-to-day basis, as well as outside, as coaching, but I think being coached by him is like a source of pride and I think many people would like to have been coached by him and so I’m happy about that.” Bebe currently plies his trade in the Primera Federacion Group 2, with Ibiza. His team are ninth in the league table after 35 games, while the player has managed three goals and six assists from 33 games this season. Final Thoughts Bebe’s transfer will go down in United history as one that generated significant excitement among fans, but proved to be an underwhelming saga. The Red Devils have made some questionable decisions in the transfer market in the post-Ferguson era as well. However, INEOS struck gold with their recruitment last summer, and fans will hope they can repeat the trick this year. The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.
“Stayed in his flat”: United flop says Sir Alex Ferguson looked after him “a lot” at Old Trafford
“The manager has got the point across to us”: United’s saviour vs Sunderland reveals what Carrick told the team after drab draw
Manchester United put in a lifeless display and were fortunate to pick up a point from their Premier League encounter against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday. Michael Carrick played a heavily rotated side, and it was always expected to be a difficult contest away from home, but a few performances will worry the club management. Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee were given a rare start to try and impress the caretaker head coach, but it is clear that they lack the necessary qualities to make the grade at Old Trafford. Amad, who was not too long ago regarded as a superstar-in-the-making, has gone off the boil since his return from the Africa Cup of Nations, and he continued his downward spiral against his former loan club. Senne Lammens was on fire The Black Cats swarmed all over the pitch, and were first to loose balls and won almost all 50-50 duels and came close to scoring on multiple occasions, but for Senne Lammens to come to the Red Devils’ rescue. The home side had 13 shots, and the Belgian produced two fine stops, one in each half, to ensure a first 0-0 draw for the away side this season. He will be pleased with his efforts, considering his mistake last week against Liverpool. With Champions League qualification secured, it almost seemed like the players were going through the motions at times. But the United No.1 revealed after the game that Carrick had explained to the group that the season is not done and the goal should be to win all remaining matches. What Michael Carrick told the players Speaking after the game, the goalkeeper said, “We can’t stop here. I know the Champions League was our main goal, but we want to finish with as many points as possible. We want to finish with a good feeling to build on for next season, so we know how important these final games are for that. “It’s important to show up and deliver in every game. We are going to try to win every game possible. We want to give back to our fans, who have been very supportive this season. “The manager has got the point across to us that this season is not finished. We have got Champions League, but we also want to finish third. We don’t want to finish below third, we want to keep those other teams away from us. I hope – and I think – our team thinks the same way as me.” As for the match itself, the 23-year-old admitted that his team were not good enough on the ball. But they made up for it with doggedness off the ball to pick up a point on the road. Senne Lammens reveals where United struggled “We had to work very hard to keep the clean sheet away at Sunderland, given the way they have been playing this season. “We always knew it was going to be a difficult one and we weren’t at our best on the ball quality-wise, but the most important things were probably not conceding and working together as a team defensively. The team can take some good points away from that. “These are still important games for us because we want to finish as high as possible, with the most points as possible. “However, Sunderland away is a tough one because they are a good team who work well together. So I think it wasn’t our day with the ball, but we can proud of the things we did without the ball.” Up next for the 20-time English league champions is their last home tie of the season, against Nottingham Forest next Sunday. Feature image Stu Forster via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
Striker Struggles: four things we learned as toothless United draw with Sunderland
Manchester United laboured to a fortunate point at the Stadium of Light today, sharing the spoils in a 0-0 draw against a dominant Sunderland. With Champions League status already secured, and a couple of notable absences, Michael Carrick’s changed side were well off the pace against Regis Le Bris’s team. Here’s what we learned from a scruffy point away from home. Off-the-Pace Mount and Zirkzee Left Toiling With Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko carrying injuries, Carrick chose Mason Mount alongside Kobbie Mainoo in midfield. Joshua Zirkzee was given the nod as a lone striker. In a difficult first half, United looked lightweight in midfield, with the Black Cats cutting through them on several occasions. Mount seemed unsettled by the Mackems’ rapid start, losing runners, getting stuck ahead of the ball, and offering little genuine quality going forward; a passivity that left United with no reliable route out as the pressure grew. As for Carrick’s other change, Zirkzee failed to impose himself against a physical pair of centre-backs, getting increasingly frustrated as the half wore on. By the time the Dutchman started to find rare pockets of space, he seemed too mentally scrambled to create anything of note. Playing in front of 50,000 Mackems baying for blood is not the ideal time to be rediscovering your rhythm, but Zirkzee offered no physical presence, no out ball, and nothing much of anything else. Martinez Overcomes Tricky Opening We are at a period in Lisandro Martinez’s career when questions are starting to be asked about his future in the side. Not only has Ayden Heaven excelled in Licha’s latest absence, but the Argentine’s poor injury record means his quality feels so remote as to be almost mythic. Is he still the same player who excelled at nipping the ball off attackers’ toes and pinging passes forward under Erik ten Hag? It is still hard to say on today’s basis. Martinez made a wobbly start alongside Harry Maguire, showing understandable signs of ring rust in the opening half an hour as the home side ploughed forward in search of an opener. After that, he steadily grew into the game, resisting the Sunderland press, twisting neatly out of tight spaces, and initiating counter-attacks with those same zippy line-breakers. Still, the question remains: with so many areas of the squad to bolster this summer, do you cash in on a player with his injury history while the price tag is still relatively high? The dilemma is real. Lifeless Bryan Questions about Bryan Mbeumo‘s form have intensified over recent weeks. Since looking like one of the side’s bright sparks under Ruben Amorim, zero goals in ten games post-Afcon is starting to look like more of a slump than a blip. With Sesko absent, Big Bry’s place on the bench felt significant. The fact that his side was struggling to impose themselves did not hasten his arrival, with Carrick waiting over an hour to introduce the Cameroonian. And yet, his eventual impact was negligible. Yes, Manchester United have got the luxury of resting players now they have hit their target for the season — but even so, is this just a step out of the firing line, or a sign of something deeper? Who knows. But the former Brentford man could do with an upbeat end to a mostly positive first season. Lammens Stands Firm Following on from his gaffe against Liverpool, Senne Lammens was back to his reliable best today. Bruno and his teammates were well off the pace for long periods, and but for a combination of wayward finishing and the big Belgian’s composure, it could easily have ended as a resounding home win. Lammens was superb throughout, and provided even more evidence that he has not just got the ability — he has also got the elite temperament to be a massive presence for Manchester United in the future. A gem. Final Thoughts: Big Summer Needed Lammens keeping us in it while Zirkzee and Mbeumo toiled tells its own story. While the first eleven is fairly settled, the gulf between it and the options beyond shows just how much work is needed in the summer. There’s a way to go before this resembles a proper United side. Featured image George Wood via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Scott Eckersley Manchester United obsessive, football writer and procrastinator. All things considered, it’s a miracle that this comment even exists.
0 key passes, 0 tackles, 56% duels lost: United star has been off the boil for some time now, INEOS need to have a look
Manchester United produced a flat display against Sunderland on Saturday and were lucky to escape the Stadium of Light with a point. This was their first 0-0 draw of the season, and the visitors had Senne Lammens to thank for the fortunate point away from home. Michael Carrick handed rare starts to fringe stars like Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee as he played a heavily rotated side. Safe to say, the duo failed to grab their chance, and INEOS must be ruthless in the summer if they are serious about the club mounting a challenge on all four fronts. Amad has been poor since AFCON return But the biggest worry for the caretaker head coach will be the form of Amad, who has been off the boil ever since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations. Both his goals and all three of his assists came under Ruben Amorim, and the Ivorian has looked a shadow of his former self under Carrick. CategoryStat Goals0 Expected Goals (xG)0.06 Assists0 Expected Assists (xA)0.04 Key Passes0 Crosses (Accurate)3 (1) Accurate Passes19/21 (90%) Passes in Opposition Half (Acc.)16/18 (89%) Passes in Own Half (Acc.)3/3 (100%) Total Shots1 Shots on Target0 Shots Blocked0 Touches41 Unsuccessful Touches5 Dribbles (Successful)3 (1) Was Fouled2 Possession Lost12 Total Carrying Distance104.4 m Carries16 Progressive Carries2 Total Progression51.7 m Progressive Carrying Distance34.6 m Longest Progressive Carry17.2 m Defensive Contributions1 Tackles (Won)0 (0) Interceptions0 Clearances0 Blocked Shots1 Recoveries1 Ground Duels (Won)7 (3) Aerial Duels (Won)2 (1) Fouls1 Dribbled Past1 match stats via sofascore Against Sunderland, it was expected that the 23-year-old would shine bright, as he knows the opposition well having represented them on loan. But during the 75 minutes he was on the pitch, the former Atalanta ace failed to create a single chance for his teammates. Amad was poor with and without the ball vs Sunderland Amad did not have a single shot on target, and found a teammate with only one of his attempted crosses (all stats via sofascore). Normally such an assured dribbler, the United No.16 completed a single take-on and he fared little better off the ball. The right-winger attempted zero tackles, while completing zero interceptions. He contested a total of nine duels, winning a mere four. Not too long ago, the fanbase was yearning for him to start, with former manager Erik ten Hag denying him minutes. INEOS need to address this Amorim’s usage of Amad in a wingback role seemed to get the best out of him, but with the 3-4-3 system now thrown out of the window, INEOS need to take a good, hard look at his future. A left winger seems to be the what the 20-time English league champions are targeting in the summer. It could be time to look at the opposite flank as well. Feature image George Wood via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
“They’re not on trial!”: Carrick launches passionate defence of five United stars after uninspiring Sunderland draw
Manchester United boss Michael Carrick has insisted that his side earned a good point against Sunderland after the two sides played out a goalless stalemate. Draw United’s three-game winning streak was brought to an end at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon. A combination of Senne Lammens and the frame of the goal helped United get away with something after an uninspiring performance. Noah Sadiki came close to breaking the deadlock in the ealy stages when he ran clear but Lammens got down well to keep his effort out. Lammens was United’s hero yet again in the second half as he produced another top save to thwart Brian Brobbey, who was a constant thorn to the visitors’ defensive quartet. Brobbey set up Lutsharel Geertruida in the closing stages of the game but the substitute only managed to rattle the post. Eventually, both sides had to settle for a share of the points. Carrick spoke to Premier League Productions after the final whistle and emphasised that the Stadium of Light was always going to be a tricky affair for United. He also had his say on the displays of Joshua Zirkzee, Mason Mount, Noussair Mazraoui and Lisandro Martinez and Amad, who were all brought into the starting XI. Carrick’s remarks The 44-year-old coach said, “It’s a tough place to come. They’ve had a good record here all season. We’ll take the point, a clean sheet is always good to get.” “We’ve scored a lot of goals this season, its just one of those games. A decent enough point and we nearly won it at the end.” Asked how the five personnel changes impacted the game, Carrick answered, “It’s one game. It’s the time of the season. We’ve done a lot of good work and some changes today and I thought the attitude to the boys was really good.” “Today is a positive result in terms of the point. Was it going to be a perfect game? We weren’t expecting a perfect game. It is what it is. It’s not something we need to overthink and it’s hard to be negative.” He added, “They’re not on trial. As a team we could have been a bit better but we know what the boys can do. Everyone has contributed in such a good way.” “I’m pleased with the overall connection, communication and willingness to work for each other today.” On how United want to end the season, having already secured Champions League football, Carrick said, “We gave everything this week. We’ve got our last home game of the season that we will work towards this week. We look forward to it.” “It’s important to finish the season strong and I think today is a positive note for us.” United are next in action next Sunday when they host Nottingham Forest. Featured image George Wood via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
39 touches, eight accurate long balls: 23-yo was United’s standout performer vs Sunderland
The Manchester United bandwagon came to a stuttering stop at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, 9 May, in the Premier League. For the first time since caretaker manager Michael Carrick’s arrival, the Red Devils failed to find the back of the net, as the Black Cats held them to a 0-0 draw. The English manager made five changes to the team that secured a hard-fought 3-2 win over Liverpool last weekend, but two of those were perhaps forced. United were without Benjamin Sesko, who aggravated a shin injury against the Merseyside club and could not regain fitness for Saturday’s game. Carrick was also without Casemiro, whose absence was sorely felt all game. The Red Devils looked vulnerable in the middle of the park, with Mason Mount failing to impress while operating in an unconventional role. While United came away from Tyne and Wear with a point, things could have been worse had Senne Lammens not stepped up on the day. Lammens redeems himself Against Liverpool last weekend, Lammens made his first major mistake since joining United which led to the Reds’ second goal. The Belgian did make amends by making a crucial save later in the game, and he was back to his impervious best against Sunderland on Saturday. With the home side dominating proceedings and pushing the Red Devils back to the wall for much of the game, it was Lammens who stood up and refused to surrender. The Black Cats attempted 15 shots in the game, including nine from inside the box, but could not get past the Belgian wall. Lammens registered 39 touches and completed 18 of his 32 attempted passes. He also attempted 22 long balls, eight of which were successful. The 23 year old made four saves in the game, including two excellent ones against Brian Brobbey and Noah Sadiki. The Belgian also showed great courage by coming quickly off his line on a couple of occasions. Lammens even ended up preventing 2.05 goals, picking up his seventh clean sheet of the season in the process. Senne Lammens Stats vs Sunderland PlayerSenne Lammens Total Saves4 Goals Prevented2.05 Punches0 High Claims0 Touches39 Accurate Passes18/32 (56%) Key Passes0 Crosses (Accurate)0 Long Balls (Accurate)22 (8) PositionG NotesSaves from inside box: 4 Source: Sofa Score. United remain third Despite dropping points at the Stadium of Light, United remain third in the Premier League for now. The Red Devils are six points adrift of fourth-placed Liverpool, who could only manage a 1-1 draw against Chelsea earlier on Saturday. While top-four rivals Aston Villa are yet to play this weekend, a victory against Nottingham Forest in a week’s time could secure third place for United. However, the result against Sunderland has laid bare several gaps in the squad that INEOS have to address over the summer. A new midfielder should rightly be at the top of United’s priority list, with the team lacking cover in the middle of the park. However, the goalkeeping department looks sorted at the moment, especially with Radek Vitek also performing very well on loan at Bristol City. Final Thoughts United will hope to have Casemiro and Sesko back when they host Forest at the Theatre of Dreams next weekend. That game is likely to be an emotional affair, as it will be the last time the Brazilian features for the Red Devils at Old Trafford. Senne Lammens prevented 2.05 goals vs. Sunderland, making 4 saves from shots taken inside the box. Man Utd’s best player. 🛑 pic.twitter.com/onUUD2pu6a — Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) May 9, 2026 Featured image Stu Forster via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.
100% duels won, 100% long balls, 100% dribbles: near-flawless United star deserved so much more than pitiful draw vs. Sunderland
Noussair Mazraoui produced a solid performance to help an underwhelming Manchester United to a lucky point against Sunderland. United held Senne Lammens made two brilliant saves in either half, first to deny Noah Sadiki and then Brian Brobbey, as United and Sunderland played out a goalless draw. Sunderland began the brighter of the two sides, imposing their physicality and testing United’s defence. An early chance fell their way when Sadiki was played through, but Lammens got down smartly to keep the effort out. The Black Cats kept up the pressure as United struggled to maintain spells of possession. Luckily for the Red Devils, they had an answer for much of what was thrown of them, with Mazraoui playing a big part in that. Given the start at right-back, he put in a solid shift and helped keep Talbi quiet. The hosts’ next big chance fell to Brian Brobbey and Lammens was on hand yet again to keep the score at 0-0. United had luck on their side when substitute Lutsharel Geertruida rattled the post. At the other end, Michael Carrick’s side failed to muster a single shot on target until added time. Eventually, both teams had to settle for a share of the points. Many of United’s players never got going, but the same cannot be said of the defensive quartet, with Mazraoui standing out as particularly impressive. Mazraoui’s performance The Moroccan made an astonishing 10 defensive contributions. He delved into four tackles, winning three of them. He made one interception and five clearances. Mazraoui also contributed a further five recoveries. The 28-year-old delved into five ground duels, winning all of them. He also came out on top in both aerial challenges that he vied for. Mazraoui touched the ball 56 times and completed the one dribble he embarked on. He delivered three key passes and found his teammates with 33 of the 38 passes he attempted. DefensiveValueGeneralValuePassingValue Def. contributions10Touches56Assists0 Tackles (won)4 (3)Unsuccessful touches1Expected assists (xA)0.02 Interceptions1Dribbles (successful)1 (1)Key passes3 Clearances5Crosses (accurate)0 (0) Recoveries5Passes in opp. half (acc.)16/19 (84%) Ground duels (won)5 (5)Passes in own half (acc.)17/19 (89%) Aerial duels (won)2 (2)Long balls (accurate)1/1 (100%) (Stats obtained from Sofascore) He also successfully connected with the one long ball he pinged. Featured image Stu Forster via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
Carrick now knows which two United stars need to be culled in the summer following lucky draw vs Sunderland
Manchester United escaped from the Stadium of Light with a fortunate point after a 0-0 draw against Sunderland on Saturday. It was a poor performance from a heavily rotated side, but a point on the road against a spirited Black Cats will go down as a decent result in the end. This was the Red Devils’ first stalemate of the season, and they had Senne Lammens to thank for keeping the scores level at the end of the 90 minutes. The Belgian pulled off multiple great saves as the hosts swarmed all over the visitors, with the midfield being cut open time and again. Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee were handed a rare opportunity to impress Michael Carrick made five changes as he looked to give minutes to fringe players, including handing rare starts to Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee. Both looked slow and off the pace and were lucky not to get hooked at half-time. With the Red Devils expected to strengthen all over the pitch in the summer, plenty of player sales will be expected. And INEOS need to be ruthless and both the Englishman and Dutchman demonstrated they are simply not good enough to make the grade at United. They failed to make it count The former Chelsea ace’s injury record is nothing to write home about, and he was wasted in midfield, where Carrick decided to play him on Saturday with Casemiro earning a breather. The United No.7 is far more effective as an attacking midfielder, a position currently occupied by Bruno Fernandes, who is unlikely to relinquish his spot any time soon. As for Zirkzee, his distinct lack of pace has always been an eyesore, and he lacked sharpness, probably as a result of his lack of minutes. Time for INEOS to sell Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee But a lack of effort cannot be excused, and that is exactly what the Netherlands international offered. Despite being a big physical presence, he rarely won any duels. The ex-Bologna ace would like to stay, but an amicable exit looks like the best solution for both parties. With Champions League qualification secured, and third-place finish looking likely, United probably will not fret too much over today’s result. However, it served as a wake-up call for the co-owners and Carrick regarding the players they cannot trust moving forward. Feature image George Wood via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
United limp to valuable point on the road in drab stalemate with Sunderland
Manchester United travelled to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland with a much changed starting line-up. First half The home side started well, pressing the United defence. This led to a good effort by Chemsdine Talbi, whose curled shot went just wide of Senne Lammens’ post. A beautiful move by Sunderland cut United open like a knife through butter, and Noah Sadiki was put through on goal. Thankfully, Lammens was equal to the midfielder’s effort and turned the ball away for a corner. United won a free kick and, instead of shooting, Bruno Fernandes set up Amad, but his curled effort went comfortably wide. An error from Lisandro Martinez almost allowed Brian Brobbey in, but Lammens was once again quick to snuff out the danger. The Black Cats felt they could have had a penalty when the ball hit Amad’s hand, but VAR’s check confirmed that the ball hit the Ivorian’s body first. The game lulled a little, but on 28 minutes, after a good spell by United, Matheus Cunha’s floated ball was headed just over by Joshua Zirkzee. The home side responded, and Brobbey dragged an effort from the right-hand side just wide. Good play from Sunderland then resulted in another shot by Sadiki, but his effort was deflected out for a corner. United had their most dangerous spell just before half-time, and Cunha’s volley deflected to Kobbie Mainoo who, in oceans of space, miskicked a clear chance to score. The whistle blew at 0-0, and Michael Carrick will have been disappointed with his side’s performance in the opening 45 minutes. Second half The second half started in slow fashion and Cunha tried to test the Sunderland keeper but his long-range effort ballooned over the bar. United almost broke through when Fernandes’ deflected through ball broke kindly to Amad but he squared the ball when he probably should have shot and the ball was cleared. Lammens once again saved United when Brobbey was played in but his fierce effort was well stopped by the Belgian. United tried to keep the ball but were lacking the fluidity of last week’s brilliant match versus Liverpool. The Black Cats were inches from opening the scoring on 71 minutes but Lutsharel Geertruida hit the base of the post with a deflected effort. United had a late chance when Cunha found himself in plenty of space in the box but he picked out nobody in the centre of the box. Cunha had another glorious chance to win the match but when once again left in oceans of space, he fired right at the Black Cats’ keeper. First XI: Lammens, Mazraoui, Martinez, Maguire, Shaw, Mount, Mainoo, Fernandes, Amad, Cunha, Zirkzee Subs: Dorgu, Mbeumo Featured image George Wood via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.
Mount offered next to nothing, but this shambolic United star’s display bordered on humiliating against Sunderland
Manchester United played out a 0-0 stalemate with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Here are our player ratings from the game. (A score of 6 is around average) Senne Lammens 8 – Made two excellent saves in either half to prevent what seemed like guaranteed Sunderland goals. Got down well to deny Noah Sadiki and Brian Brobbey. Noussair Mazraoui 6 – Solid against Talbi, but didn’t offer very much going forward. Harry Maguire 6 – An OK game and good in the air. Lisandro Martinez 4 – Endured a tough game on his return to the starting XI after a three-game suspension. Bullied by Brobbey. Luke Shaw 6 – Similar to Mazraoui, he worked hard defensively but didn’t provide attacking support in wide areas. Kobbie Mainoo 6 – Decent performance. Controlled performance at the heart of a tough battle in the middle of the park. Mason Mount 3 – Contributed virtually nothing. Already struggling for minutes under Michael Carrick, he did nothing to warrant his place today. Bruno Fernandes 5 – A subdued performance. He simply wasn’t allowed to dictate play or hit the heights we’ve come to expect. That much was clear from United registering their only shot on target in added time. Amad 4 – He just can’t seem to find his rhythm right now. There was a bright moment in the first half when Fernandes teed him up, but that was the extent of his impact. Too many attacking moves fizzled out with him, and he was consistently outmatched by the full-back. One decent opening to assist Matheus Cunha was squandered with a misguided pass—a chance that should have been buried. Matheus Cunha 4 – Another underwhelming performer, which is surprising considering how good his recent form has been. He barely threatened the opposition, if we’re being generous. Joshua Zirkzee 2 – Abysmal. He couldn’t make anything stick, coughing up possession even under minimal pressure. He struggled in his duels, and apart from a glancing header that didn’t trouble the goalkeeper, he barely laid a glove on the Black Cats. Rightly the first one to be hooked. Substitutes Patrick Dorgu 4 – Made no difference whatsoever. Waste of a substitute. Bryan Mbeumo 4 – Same as Dorgu. Featured image George Wood via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
