Andoni Iraola warned the rest of the Premier League that Manchester United are ‘a hell of a team’ after watching Ruben Amorim’s side thrash Bournemouth 4-1 on Wednesday in Chicago.
Goals from Rasmus Hojlund, Patrick Dorgu, Amad Diallo and Ethan Williams helped United to a 4-0 lead before a late own goal from Matthijs de Ligt saw the Cherries pull one back at a drizzly Soldier Field.
It marked back-to-back victories for a Red Devils side who look rejuvenated this pre-season after slumping to a 15th place Premier League finish last term.
And speaking after the fixture, Bournemouth manager Iraola was full of praise for Amorim’s team, admitting ‘we are very far right now from United’.
‘I think United is a hell of a team and they’ve signed very well,’ the Spaniard told Sky Sports News.
‘Today they showed that they are above us in this moment, that’s what counts.
Manchester United breezed to a 4-1 victory over Bournemouth in Chicago on Wednesday night
Andoni Iraola called the Red Devils ‘a hell of a team’ during a post-match interview
‘We still have time to prepare but we are probably not as good as we looked the other day and as bad as we looked today. Somewhere in the middle, we have to continue preparing for the season.’
Bournemouth have indeed endured a mixed pre-season so far, with the heavy defeat to United coming just days after they comprehensively beat Everton 3-0.
The result in Chicago may worry Bournemouth supporters given the fact they were facing a United side without new recruits Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbuemo.
Red Devils supporters are yet to see the duo feature together, with Mbuemo still building his fitness up while Cunha recovers from ‘fatigue’.
United bosses splashed out almost £140million on the Premier League-proven attackers, who it is hoped will boost a side who struggled in-front of goal last season.
And it seems Ruben Amorim isn’t done strengthening his front-line just yet, with the news breaking ahead of yesterday’s fixture that United have made RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko their No 1 striker target.
They’ve ultimately decided to pursue a deal for the 22-year-old strapping No 9 ahead of Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, who Unai Emery is keen to keep beyond this transfer window.
It’s understood that United have approached Leipzig via intermediaries to explore the possibility of signing Sesko who could be available to them for between £60-70million plus add-ons.
Goals from Rasmus Hojlund, Amad Diallo, Patrick Dorgu and Ethan Williams helped United on their way to victory
Ruben Amorim was without new signings Bryan Mbuemo and Matheus Cunha for the victory
Their latest pre-season victory comes as United bosses ramped up their pursuit of RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko
United would reportedly also be open to a swap-plus-cash deal, with Rasmus Hojlund, who has actually impressed so far this season, at risk of being used as a makeweight.
Ruben Amorim is also said to be interested in strengthening his squad in a number of other areas, with United bosses reportedly searching for a goalkeeper to replace Andre Onana, who is currently out injured.
Villa rejected an offer to take Emi Martinez on loan and United have also been linked with Paris Saint-Germain keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and John Victor of Botafogo.
Red Devils bosses are however running out of time to assemble a squad before the new season, with Amorim’s side lining up for their first league game at home to Arsenal in a little over two weeks.
