Manchester United produced their best performance of their pre-season tour on Wednesday, brushing aside their bogey team Bournemouth with a dominant 4-1 victory in the Premier League Summer Series in Chicago.
The scoring was opened by Rasmus Højlund, who delicately directed a Patrick Dorgu cross into the back of the net for a much-needed confidence boost. The young Danish left-back then turned scorer himself less than 20 minutes later, capping a stellar individual display with a goal and an assist.
After the break, Amad Diallo tallied a third for the Red Devils before 19-year-old substitute Ethan Williams put the cherry on top with a fourth goal. A late own goal from Matthijs de Ligt was the only blemish on an otherwise superb team performance that showcased significant cohesion and improvement.
Manager Ruben Amorim was delighted with his team’s display. He reserved special praise for the young goalscorers, saying of Williams’ goal, “I celebrate that goal, because I really like to see the kids that work really well.” He described Dorgu’s performance as “impressive,” adding that the 20-year-old “looks more and more like he belongs in Manchester United.”
Regarding Højlund, the manager looked beyond the goal itself. “For me, it’s more than a goal,” Amorim said, highlighting the striker’s crucial link-up play and fighting spirit. Overall, the manager was “really pleased” with the team’s intensity and focus.
When asked about the ongoing transfer links to striker Benjamin Šeško, Amorim gave a coy response, shifting focus back to his current squad. “The important thing is Rasmus is scoring goals,” he said. “I don’t know what will happen until the market is closed.”
The convincing win provides a major boost for Manchester United as they head into their final tour game against Everton.