Man Utd thrash Bournemouth to keep up perfect pre-season record

Daily Mirror

3 days ago

MANCHESTER UNITED 4-1 BOURNEMOUTH: The Red Devils thrashed their fellow Premier League side in wet and wild conditions in Chicago, as Ruben Amorim's resurgent side maintained their winning form on their US pre-season tour
Manchester United maintained their winning start to their US tour, defeating Bournemouth 3-0 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
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Victory saw Ruben Amorim 's side avenge their 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth at Old Trafford last season, with Rasmus Hojlund, Patrick Dorgu, Amad and Ethan Williams scoring the goals in wet and wild conditions in the windy city.
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United's win also means they are the only side with a 100 percent record in the four-team Premier League Summer Series, heading into the final round of games in Atlanta on Sunday. Here are five talking points from United's comfortable win in the windy city.
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Hojlund's timely striker
On the day United made their move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, the player currently leading their attack, Hojlund, provided a timely reminder of his goalscoring ability by plundering the opener.
Hojlund toiled last season, managing just 12 goals in all competitions, which was one of the reasons United made recruiting a proven goalscorer their top priority in the summer transfer window, with Sesko and Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins their top targets, having seen Liam Delap go to Chelsea, Viktor Gyokeres to Arsenal and Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool.
Hojlund may find himself surplus to requirements next season, if United get Sesko or Watkins, and may ultimately end up leaving or going out on loan, but his work-rate and desire cannot be questioned, even if he is not prolific enough to lead the line for United.
Shaw shows his class
After spending most of last season a hostage to injury, featuring in just 12 of United's 60 games, the new campaign is one of huge significance for Luke Shaw. Playing at left centre-back, Shaw started superbly, executing a perfectly-timed robust tackle early on to dispossess Antoine Semenyo as the Bournemouth attacker surged towards the United goal.
Shaw played with confidence thereafter, surviving a scare on the half-hour when he went down after Semenyo had trodden on his left foot. Shaw came out on top in their personal battle and coming through the game and playing so impressively was a huge boost for Amorim, who described the 30-year-old as ' world class' in an interview earlier on the tour and who intends for him to be a key player for him next season.
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'I really like this formation,' said Shaw ahead of the game. 'But, honestly, I don't mind wherever the manager wants me to play. I'm happy to play anywhere. I've been playing left-centre back this pre-season and I'm just really happy to be doing this pre-season as I missed the last pre-season.'
Mount makes his mark
Another United player with a point to prove, after two injury-plagued seasons, was Mason Mount who, like Shaw, was handed a starting place. Like Shaw, Mount played with intensity and purpose, linking up well early on with Bruno Fernandes, the pair exchanging passes before the United skipper saw his shot saved.
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Mount played a role in United's opening goal after eight minutes, his clever run off the ball dragging a defender away and opening up enough space for Patrick Dorgu to pick out Rasmus Hojlund, whose glancing header beat Djordje Petrovic in the Bournemouth goal. In the 25th minute, Mount's quick-thinking led to United's second goal, after he spotted Dorgu's run and took a swift free-kick, scooping the ball high for him to run on to and dispatch beyond Petrovic. There was certainly enough in Mount's first-half display to suggest that, if he can stay fit, he can be influential for United next season.
Cunha too tired to play
Amorim made six changes from his starting line-up from United's 2-1 win over West Ham in New Jersey in their US tour opener. The most notable absentee was Matheus Cunhaw, who was not even included in the match-day squad, after complaining of fatigue in the build-up to the game against Bournemouth.
'We need to assess all the players,' said Amorim. 'We have to be careful with everyone. He's available for the next one. Matheus felt a little bit fatigues. He was ready to play, he wants to give everything, but we gave to be careful.'
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Manchester weather in Chicago
Soldier Field, the 61,000-capacity home of NFL team the Chicago Bears, was not even half-full for United against Bournemouth and the game that preceded it between West Ham and Everton. But as the weather worsened and swirling winds were accompanied by driving rain, with no cover in any of the four stands, the attendance became even more sparse as fans decided to leave early because of the conditions.
The hardy ones left behind putting on ponchos to protect themselves from the relentless showers that fell. After the searing heat of the previous week, in which the temperatures in Chicago hit the high 90s, the weather more akin to Manchester was no doubt welcomed by the players.
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