Mount injury overshadows Man Utd's 1-1 draw with PSG in Gothenburg friendly

Match summary

Manchester United played out a 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain in a pre-season friendly in Gothenburg, Sweden, on Saturday. PSG, the back-to-back Champions League winners under Luis Enrique, were missing many of their star players including French internationals, but took the lead in the second minute when Ibrahim Mbaye side-footed home after a cross-goal ball from Dro Fernandez. Bryan Mbeumo equalised for United in the 32nd minute with a low, left-footed shot from inside the box, set up by Amad Diallo, who had won the ball back in the attacking half before driving to the edge of the area and slipping a pass through.

United, who finished third in the Premier League last season, will compete in the 2026/27 Champions League alongside PSG. The result leaves United with two more friendly fixtures, against Leeds United and Milan, before their Premier League opener against Hull City on August 22. PSG, meanwhile, are four days away from the UEFA Super Cup, according to Le Figaro.

Mount injury concern

The draw was overshadowed by an injury to Mason Mount, who lasted less than 20 minutes before appearing to suffer a foot injury. Following discussions with coaches on the touchline, the 27-year-old England midfielder was replaced by Tyler Fletcher. Mount joined United from Chelsea in 2023 and has been restricted to just 31 league appearances, many as a substitute, during his first two seasons at Old Trafford due to injury problems.

Heaton also forced off

United suffered a second injury concern early in the second half when 40-year-old goalkeeper Tom Heaton suffered a right hamstring problem while rushing out to make a clearance. Heaton had been deputising for the ill Senne Lammens, with Matheus Cunha also sidelined for the same reason, and was replaced by academy graduate Dermot Mee.

Amad impresses

Amad Diallo furthered his claim to United's right-sided attacking role with a performance full of energy and guile. The Ivory Coast international, fresh from a World Cup in which he scored twice, gave 16-year-old PSG full-back Axel Koukaba a difficult time with his driving runs. His out-of-possession work was particularly notable, hassling PSG's backline into mistakes, which directly led to United's equaliser.

With Benjamin Sesko nursing a shin injury, Mbeumo is deputising through the middle, leaving the right flank open for Amad. The pair have developed an encouraging understanding, combining and rotating effectively. Mbeumo might have doubled his tally but for the form of PSG's Matvey Safonov, who denied him in the 54th minute.

Other talking points

PSG goalkeeper Safonov left the pitch to jeers after clattering into Joshua Zirkzee well outside his area, an incident that might have drawn punishment in a competitive match. Bruno Fernandes had a late effort from distance that bounced wide, and the captain linked up with new arrival Youri Tielemans in what was an encouraging sign for United manager Michael Carrick.

“I enjoyed it. Good challenge. Slightly different with the way they play. We should've scored more goals.”

Carrick, the former United and England midfielder, told MUTV that the things the team was trying to get out of the game were largely there. He added that having players problem-solve on the pitch and find their own way prepares them for the season, and that there were good signs that people do not always see.