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<\/p>\nManchester United fans waited 24 days for competitive football to return but after 30 minutes they were probably ready for another break.<\/p>\n
15:01, 14 Apr 2026<\/p>\n
![\"Manuel](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0_GettyImages-2270751007.jpg\")
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Manuel Ugarte looks on during Manchester United’s defeat to Leeds in the Premier League(Image: Richard Sellers\/Sportsphoto\/Allstar via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Anticipation for Manchester United’s Premier League return was building for a whole 24 days. Michael Carrick’s side had an unprecedented break between the draw at Bournemouth and the clash with Leeds. But the excitement of seeing the Reds again was extinguished inside 30 minutes.<\/p>\n
United<\/a> found themselves 2-0 down to their fierce rivals and were staring down the barrel of defeat to Daniel Farke’s side. It was, without doubt, the worst start the Reds have made since Carrick<\/a> took charge and set United on their way to just their second defeat under his leadership.<\/p>\n MEN Sport has picked apart the opening half an hour from Monday night’s clash and picked out everything that went wrong.<\/p>\n Get MEN Premium now for just \u00a31 <\/strong>HERE<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking <\/strong>HERE<\/a><\/strong>. You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking HERE<\/a> and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters <\/strong>HERE.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Issues on the right<\/p>\n The first major problem was down the right flank. Diogo Dalot’s<\/a> illness last week meant Noussair Mazraoui started. Ahead of him was Amad, with Bryan Mbeumo left on the bench as Benjamin Sesko led the line.<\/p>\n Amad was struggling to track back to support Mazraoui who was under the cosh immediately as Gabriel Gudmundsson delivered a perfect cross for Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Senne Lammens made the save but it was a warning.<\/p>\n United were also struggling with Leeds’<\/a> press. Amad was one of those who was being forced to play with his back to goal as Farke’s side forced him back.<\/p>\n In fairness to Amad, United eventually managed to find him space and the Ivorian became the Reds’ main threat. However, Mazraoui and Amad were struggling badly early on.<\/p>\n Manuel Ugarte<\/p>\n Ugarte <\/a>is not the only player who will be singled out but his errors were significant. His second touch saw him lose possession as Leeds quickly identified the weak link.<\/p>\n The beauty of Kobbie Mainoo is that he can operate in tight spaces and pick out the right pass. Ugarte can’t do that, was harried quickly and lost possession too easily.<\/p>\n For the first goal, he was not alert to Jayden Bogle’s run and by the time he did track back, the ball was easily floated in and we all know what came next. Inside ten minutes, he was jeered for being too negative in possession.<\/p>\n This is not entirely fair as Ugarte is not Mainoo. It was a mistake from Carrick to pick him to be the ball-playing midfielder, and his inclusion needs rethinking if Mainoo is not fit for Saturday.<\/p>\n Benjamin Sesko<\/p>\n We have already mentioned Leeds’ pressing that caused United endless problems, and the Reds’<\/a> centre-forward struggled with it too. The visitors’ effective press meant, more often than not, the ball was forced backwards, sideways and Sesko was starved of service.<\/p>\n United did manage to find a way out to him as the half wore. His big chance came shortly before the second goal but James Justin did well to put a foot in and the opportunity was gone.<\/p>\n Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package<\/p>\n This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/a> Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.<\/p>\n Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.<\/p>\n It was surprising to see Sesko start this kind of game. Mbeumo could have had more success with the gaps Leeds were leaving behind.<\/p>\n The Liverpool game was a prime example of this and United caused Bournemouth problems with Mbeumo’s fluidity. Sesko was struggling to impose himself against three centre-backs and this left the Reds without an out-ball.<\/p>\n Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lisandro Martinez<\/p>\n These two would have a more pivotal coming together in the second half. But, in the first, United’s Argentine was struggling to handle him.<\/p>\n This was completely different to Martinez’s battle with Erling Haaland earlier this season. Calvert-Lewin was more physical than Haaland that day and Martinez struggled to cope with it.<\/p>\n Unlike Sesko, Calvert-Lewin was using his presence to bully the back line and dragged the defender out of position as he held the ball up. Yoro handled him better, and it seems Martinez<\/a> was struggling fresh off the back of an injury layoff.<\/p>\n Bruno Fernandes<\/p>\n Fernandes<\/a> has been phenomenal for United this season. He delivered the cross for Casemiro’s goal and after the first half an hour, he was more like the midfielder we have seen for most of the campaign.<\/p>\n However, Leeds did brilliantly to silence him. Like Ugarte, Fernandes was crowded out and was resorting to lofted balls that were being dealt with by the back-three.<\/p>\n Casemiro, Ugarte and Mazraoui were all guilty of forcing the pass towards Fernandes too often, even when it was not on. The Reds were too one-dimensional with their attacks and struggled to get a foothold because of that.<\/p>\n Fernandes also had a small hand in the calamitous second goal.<\/p>\n Second goal<\/p>\n Fernandes went down in the opposition’s half after losing the ball. The challenge was not particularly heavy and whether it was a foul or not, the captain needed to get up and get back once it was clear it would not be given.<\/p>\n United were a man light in defence as Leeds broke but Fernandes does not shoulder the most blame for the goal. Martinez should have hoofed it clear when he received the ball in the area but instead he went short to Casemiro<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Content](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\"\/)
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