Manchester United produced a dominant display in difficult conditions to beat Bournemouth 4-1 in the Premier League Summer Series in Chicago. The lively Rasmus Hojlund set the tone with his early header and Patrick Dorgu added a second before the break as United outplayed the Cherries throughout.
Amad Diallo made it three in the second half before Ethan Williams came on to make it four. Matthijs de Ligt diverted the ball past Tom Heaton late in the game to offer some consolation for Andoni Iraolas side but United were worthy winners, Ruben Amorims players looking sharper throughout.
United could not count on Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha – the latter omitted due to fatigue – but it proved no problem. The victory builds on the 2-1 win over West Ham in their opening fixture. If United beat Everton in their final game then they will lift the trophy.
More importantly, there are indications that these players are more comfortable in Amorims shape now. Premier League pre-season: Fixtures and resultsEighty per cent of all televised Premier League games next season are on Sky Sports Amorim: We looked like a different teamManchester United head coach Ruben Amorim: We played with intensity.
We were aggressive and that is something that we need to improve from last season. We have better possession compared to the last game so they are listening. Of course, scoring first in the beginning of the games can change the confidence of the team.
We changed some positions and you feel it that they know what to do in different positions. It was a good test. We controlled quite well the runs of Evanilson and Semenyo one against one. Luke Shaw was also really strong.
So it was a good day. Its just a pre-season game, but the feeling with the same players looks like a different team and that is a good sign. We are playing better because of Hojlund The important thing, I think is that people focus on the goals and we suffer a lot because of the lack of goals.
I think not just the goals, but the way he connects the play every time we have to kick the ball [long]. The ability for him to hold the defender and to connect in support is helping us a lot to play better and we are playing better because hes playing better.
Im really happy with Rasmus. I dont know what is going to happen until the end of the market. The important thing is that the strikers that are here are working really well, are improving, are helping the team and that is the most important thing.
Analysis: Amorim style taking shape?Amorim had insisted all along that perhaps the changes that he wanted to make at Old Trafford would be easier to implement during a summer and there were encouraging signs in Chicago that the worst of his time at United could now be behind him.
There were plenty of positives in this performance against Bournemouth that went deeper than the result. In difficult conditions, United moved the ball impressively and played with real intensity and no little cohesion.
In other words, it was different. There were interchanges between Bruno Fernandes and Mount, the latter adding weight to the theory that Amorims system will suit him in the long term. Dorgu, having shown himself to be a useful outlet last season, suggested he can build on that promise.
This is pre-season and there are dangers in reading too much into it – particularly given that new signings Cunha and Mbeumo did not feature. But perhaps that is also a good sign. The same players looked a lot better.
Light at the end of a long tunnel for Amorim. Premier League Summer Series fixtures and scheduleSaturday July 26 – MetLife Stadium, New Jersey Everton 0-3 BournemouthMan Utd 2-1 West Ham Wednesday July 30 – Soldier Field, ChicagoWest Ham 2-1 Everton Thursday July 31 – Soldier Field, ChicagoManchester United 4-1 Bournemouth Sunday August 3 – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, AtlantaBournemouth vs West Ham – 7pm kick-off, live on Sky SportsManchester United vs Everton – 10pm kick-off, live on Sky Sports
