Mazraoui: Pitch-Crashers Just Showing United Some 'Big Love' as Red Devils Edge Leeds on Pens
DUBLIN — Chaos? Nah. That's just Manchester United's fanbase showing up and showing out.
After a pre-season friendly against Leeds United was cut short at 90 minutes because selfie-hunting pitch invaders kept sprinting onto the turf, Noussair Mazraoui didn't sweat it. He just stepped up, kept his nerve, and rolled in the decisive penalty to give United a 5-4 shootout win.
“You don't want to see it, but it shows the big love they have for this club,” Mazraoui said with a shrug. “We're enjoying it and the atmosphere today was amazing from the fans.”
The real madness? Security was slow to react when two kids sprinted on, one grabbing a photo with captain Bruno Fernandes. Then three more joined. Referee Neil Doyle had seen enough and blew the whistle right on 90 minutes with the game locked at 1-1.
Familiar Faces, Same Hunger
On the pitch, United looked sharp. Joshua Zirkzee fired home in the 16th minute after a slick setup from the electric Bryan Mbeumo, who was a constant headache for Leeds and even rattled the crossbar before halftime.
Leeds pulled level through Brenden Aaronson after some tidy work from Daniel James, but United were clearly holding cards close to their chest. Lisandro Martínez, Harry Maguire, Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford were all held in reserve.
Rashford—fully back in the fold after a long spell on the sidelines—was watching from the stands alongside Mainoo, Martínez and Mason Mount. He could make his first United appearance since December 2024 this weekend against AC Milan, where former boss Ruben Amorim now waits on the opposite sideline.
Carrick Isn't Changing Anything
Michael Carrick, now permanent boss after an interim stint, isn't overcomplicating things.
“He's our player,” Carrick told ITV. “He's come back great, just like any other player. I've known Marcus a long time and he gives us something a little bit different. He's been great since he's been back.”
Mazraoui says Carrick's message hasn't shifted one bit.
“He didn't change at all,” Mazraoui said. “We've been playing like we did in the last half of the season and even improving that. There's a clear idea. We know how to play and you see the improvement, even in these friendlies, some moments in the game, a lot of moments are just enjoying our football.”
Even in defeat, Aaronson saw the positives.
“We feel great,” the American said. “It's another great game for us. I think the preseason we have had has been top. We need to keep going like this.”
Amid the selfies and the spot kicks, United are building something. And if the fans are crashing the pitch over a friendly? Just wait until the real season begins.