🚨Peter Schmeichel on Carlos Baleba’s first-half performance for Manchester United against Leeds United: 🗣️ Peter Schmeichel: “I watched those first 45 minutes, and I immediately thought about what Michael Carrick said during the week: ‘This is the best training session we’ve had in a while.’ “And honestly, I could see it in these players. They are fighting, they are giving everything, and they are showing a level of commitment you want to see from Manchester United. The defence has not been particularly convincing, but you can see the fight, the aggression and the determination to win individual duels. That is something you can build on. “And then there is Carlos Baleba. What a player! Manchester United may have struck gold with this boy. I am not going to sit here and say he is already the best midfielder Brighton have produced, but the talent is obvious. There is something special about the way he plays. “He makes the midfield feel like it has an extra man. This is only his second start alongside Andrey Santos, yet you can already see the confidence growing between them. They are beginning to understand each other, and that is important. “People sometimes think you have to be the best player on the pitch to show your quality. That is not true. Sometimes, all you need is the right guidance, a manager who trusts you and the confidence to express yourself. You can see that happening with Baleba. “There was one moment when he received the ball under pressure. I was practically ready to shout, ‘Shoot! Shoot!’ because I thought he was going to force something. Instead, he started juggling the ball around Stach and then skipped past him. I sat there thinking, ‘My goodness, what have we just seen?’ “It reminded me of Paul Pogba at Manchester United. That ability to make something difficult look effortless, to manipulate the ball in tight spaces and escape pressure with a little bit of arrogance. Baleba has that kind of confidence, and when you combine it with his physical strength, you understand why he could become a very important player. “Then you look at Bryan Mbeumo, and I honestly struggle to think of many players in the Premier League who are as reliable in delivering decisive moments. Play him on the right wing, and he delivers. Put him on the left, and he still delivers. Use him as a number nine, and he finds a way to make an impact. “That is what you want from an attacking player. He does not need everything to be perfect before he contributes. Manchester United have a serious player in Mbeumo, and his versatility gives the manager so many options. “My biggest concern, however, is Bruno Fernandes. His movement and positioning, both on and off the ball, are becoming worrying. We know the quality he possesses, and we know he can take responsibility when the team needs him. But there are moments when I want to see him demand the ball, dictate the tempo and take control of the game. “Bruno is the captain. He is the player everyone looks towards when Manchester United need inspiration. He cannot afford to disappear from the game when things become difficult. He needs to step up, get on the ball and grab this match by the neck. “Because if Baleba continues playing with this confidence, Mbeumo keeps delivering in the final third, and Bruno finds his authority again, Manchester United could have something very exciting developing here. The talent is there. The fight is there. Now they need consistency, because one good half is encouraging, but Manchester United must learn to turn performances like this into results.”