Man Utd's 'new wine, old bottle' scene

Spending 210 million USD to reform the midfield, Man Utd still exposed old problems when they twice took the lead but allowed Everton to equalize 2-2 in round 3 of the Premier League.

In the 96th minute of the match at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Ainsley Maitland-Niles scored a goal against Man Utd, ending the match, the away team probably only had to blame themselves. The "Red Devils" took the lead twice thanks to Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, but were unable to protect their advantage.

Everton entered the match with a thin team after a disappointing transfer period. The host even has only one real striker in the squad. But for most of the late game, Man Utd did not show the appearance of a team determined to secure victory.

That is more worrying than the two beautiful shots of Tyrique George and Maitland-Niles. Both are masterpieces, but Man Utd gave Everton too many opportunities to put pressure on after taking the lead.

Man Utd spent $210 million in the summer to restructure the midfield, partly to help the team control the match better. But against Everton, Michael Carrick's team was not able to maintain the initiative when they had an advantage.

When Mbeumo scored at the beginning of the half with a beautiful solo shot, this should have been the time when Man Utd accelerated, taking advantage of Everton's instability to decide the match. Instead, the away team played passively. They didn't necessarily just sit deep to protect the score, but they also weren't proactive enough to force Everton to defend.

When George equalized in the 83rd minute, the feeling that Man Utd had lost the victory became even more evident. Sesko then headed the visitors ahead again in the 88th minute, but Man Utd still could not manage the final minutes. Maitland-Niles took advantage of the space and fired a shot from distance in the 96th minute, bringing a 2-2 draw to Everton.

If only looking at the results, Man Utd can argue that the two goals lost came from moments of ecstasy from their opponents. But that's not the whole story. The problem lies in the way they let the match get out of control.

Man Utd has new faces and is expected to create a different look. But after three Premier League rounds, the team still conceded two goals per match. This is only the second time in 50 years that Man Utd has conceded two or more goals in the first three matches of the season.

The problem is not just with the defenders. When the midfield cannot control the tempo and the team cannot keep the ball long enough, the pressure is constantly on the defense.

Carrick admitted that Man Utd needs to improve some defensive issues. The English coach also commented that the team did many good things to take the lead twice. But for a team that wants to compete in the top group, leading Everton twice with only one point is still an unacceptable result.

Man Utd didn't even have too much difficulty creating opportunities. Bruno Fernandes once hit the crossbar, and Rashford had a very good move on the left wing and created a favorable opportunity for Matheus Cunha. But Cunha shot over the bar.

Rashford is Man Utd's most outstanding player. He constantly made life difficult for right-back Merlin Rohl and made a difference every time he had the ball. However, the away team did not exploit this advantage enough. When Rashford left the field in the 70th minute because he felt he had a physical problem, Man Utd also lost a significant source of energy in attack.

In other positions, Cunha and Mbeumo lost the ball too much. Bruno performed below expectations, while Youri Tielemans did not make much of an impact. Kobbie Mainoo is one of the few midfielders trying to push the team forward. These details show that Man Utd has not yet become a cohesive team.

One notable point from the match was the difference between Rashford and Luke Shaw compared to the rest. These two players have played together for a long time so they understand each other. Shaw provided good support for Rashford on the left wing and he himself crossed the ball for Sesko to head in to score the second goal.

Carrick admitted that Man Utd needs to create similar chemistry in other areas. That may be the key to explaining why the team has invested a lot but has not completely changed. Buying new players can add individual quality, but does not automatically create coordination, character or match management ability.

Man Utd may have changed personnel, but playing habits have not changed accordingly. That is the image of a team with "new wine in old bottles".

Carrick has also not been able to recreate the version of Man Utd that made a strong impression at the beginning of his term. The two wins over Man City and Arsenal in January remain the most outstanding performances under his watch. Since then, the team has not maintained the same intensity and stability.

After three Premier League matches, Man Utd only has four points. They scored good goals, had good moments and had individuals capable of making a difference. But all have not yet combined into a team capable of controlling the match from start to finish.

Man Utd will return to the Champions League in midweek, meeting Sabah FK of Azerbaijan at Old Trafford. After that, they took on Man City in the Premier League. This could be an opportunity for Carrick to prove that the team is actually improving, instead of just changing personnel.

Because, Man Utd's problem is not simply needing an additional midfielder, defender or striker. They need to learn how to control the match when leading, maintain pressure instead of waiting for the opponent to counterattack and show bravery when the match enters the decisive minutes.