Man United draws Everton, West Ham blanks Bournemouth in US tour finales
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Bruno Fernandes scored one goal and set up another as Manchester United drew Everton 2-2 on Sunday to capture the Premier League Summer Series title.
The Red Devils earned a final point in Atlanta to top the table with seven in the pre-season friendly tournament, having previously beaten West Ham 2-1 and Bournemouth 4-1 in the round-robin US tour.
“It’s improving,” Fernandes told Sky Sports after the match. “I think the club is doing the best that they can.
“We needed more competition for the players that were here. We needed more quality to get everyone to step up a little bit more, to have more to do to get into the first 11. I think that’s what the club is trying to do, the manager, and hopefully we can get one or two players more to help with that.”
Manchester United finished last season 15th in the Premier League, their worst showing since relegation in 1973-74, managing only 11 wins and nine drawn from 38 matches.
“I think a lot of people have suffered from this,” Fernandes said. “The fans pay more for the tickets and we really appreciate all the efforts they do for us.
“So it’s up to us now players to repay it on the pitch.”
Fernandes said the club is working to improve from team and staff to facilities.
“It’s every detail. Every small thing matters,” Fernandes said. “At this football club, you can’t do anything wrong on the pitch and off the pitch because it’s too big worldwide.
“The culture of this club was winning. It was there. And we need to bring back that.”
Everton’s James Tarkowski brought down Amad Diallo in the penalty area and Fernandes blasted in the shot from the spot to lift Man United ahead 1-0 in the 19th minute.
French-born Senegalese international Iliman Ndiaye equalised for the Toffees in the 40th minute, tapping in off a pass from Senegal’s Idrissa Gana Gueye.
Mason Mount, who entered the field barely 10 minutes earlier, took a pass from Fernandes and curled in a shot past Jordan Pickford in the 69th minute to put Manchester United back in front.
But Everton pulled level in the 75h minute when a ball directed back by Diallo deflected off Manchester United Ayden Heaven and into the back of the Man United net for an own goal.
Manager Ruben Amorim inserted newcomer Bryan Mbeumo into his starting lineup, the arrival from Brentford missing earlier matches to finish pre-season training.
