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Inside story: Victory in New Jersey
Sunday 27 July 2025 11:49
“Take me back to Manchester with you!” shouted a fan inside the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey as a few of United’s stars warmed up nearby.
This first fixture in the USA in 2025 was, of course, about building fitness and rhythm ahead of the new season. But, as that comment made clear, this was equally about thousands of fans having the opportunity to celebrate their love for United, and subsequently for the city of Manchester, and the way that shapes their identity.
The pre-match walk up towards a ground in the USA is completely different to that in the the UK, where football stadiums have traditionally been tightly tucked in to the communities which the club represents — houses and pubs, right next door.
In New Jersey, the MetLife is at the centre of a sprawling system of car parks, in which fans ‘tail-gate’, cooking up meat on barbecues, dipping into coolers for a cold beer, and meeting up with friends old and new. It’s different, but it ultimately stems from the same basic principle as the English pub: a chance to chat with mates, and to make new ones. It’s more festival-like, but with a very United and Mancunian focus. Chicken wings on the barbecue, but The Stone Roses and Oasis on the speakers. New York Yankees hats, United shirts.
Inside, United arrived a little later than we would at Old Trafford due to the nature of the set-up: a double-header game. So, the team meal was held at the hotel three-and-a-half hours before kick-off, with the squad in good spirits.
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The journey to New Jersey began on Friday, first with an open training session at Soldier Field. After external media watched the players greet fans on their way out to the pitch for a stretching session and some competitive sprint testing, Ruben Amorim continued to bring a strong tactical focus to his sessions, behind closed doors.
Wednesday’s session at Chicago Fire’s training ground was conducted with a really high intensity. Thursday was, Ruben explained, slower to allow for recovery, but with lots of tactical instruction. Friday picked up the vigour, with the players’ competitive spirit demonstrated by a fierce battle in shooting practice at the end. Matheus Cunha wowed with a few curlers and Diogo Dalot and Harry Maguire stuck a couple of beauties in before Bruno Fernandes tested his penalties, to great effect.
Once done, Bruno made a stop on his way back to the dressing rooms, surprising United’s two camera operators out on tour, Keith and Noel, who were both celebrating 25 years at the club. You can see the moment in Tour Diaries: Episode Three.
Ruben and Cunha then addressed the media. You’ll have read their quotes here and elsewhere, no doubt. Both spoke engagingly. We’re used to that from Ruben, but Matheus, as a new signing, made a strong impression in his first press conference. As Ruben described him, he’s “humble”, but with confidence in himself and a smiling, approachable nature. A good fit for United.
After freshening up back at the hotel, United headed to New Jersey, arriving late in the evening to a stunning New York skyline across the Hudson River. No one could fail to appreciate that view.
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Roaming the streets, meanwhile, were Reds who’d come from all over the USA, and Canada, to watch their team. For many, it was a rare chance to visit New York City, too. Like United’s match-going supporters in Europe, the combination of football and travel is a dreamy one. The players appreciate it, too. As Toby Collyer said in a recent interview, the best bit about football — off the pitch — is how it takes you to new places and helps you experience new things.
And on the pitch, these games are perfect for trying new things. United started brightly. We were fortunate enough to be sat immediately next to the goal, on which Rasmus Hojlund bore down just a minute in, outmuscling his marker before striking the post. With such a good viewpoint, you can see the determination and focus in the player’s eyes. Post-match, Ruben picked out Hojlund for his work ethic and fight in the game.
He was far from the only player to show good strength against his marker. Patrick Dorgu did the same, and Leny Yoro, Amad and Kobbie Mainoo. Plus Manuel Ugarte, plenty of times. It’s been noted by many that the squad look particularly lean and fit this pre-season, and have done since returning to Carrington earlier in July.
“That is the minimum that you have to do,” Amorim explained to us. “You have to be in perfect condition when you play in the best league in the world. And, there’s a good thing called competition. They know that there is no European games. You can only start 11 players.”
As for the 11 who started against West Ham, Ruben said it wasn’t indicative of who would be selected to face Arsenal on the opening day of the Premier League season. New signing Bryan Mbeumo wasn’t ready to play, with his individual development plan a little different to the others. Joshua Zirkzee is still recovering from a small injury, and Noussair Mazraoui was ruled out with a minor knock.
Those who did play did well. Ruben was pleased with the first half. There was a good intensity, given it was only the second game of pre-season. There was also a lot of talking. “Communication is important,” Ugarte told us post-match. We could hear it. Matthijs de Ligt was particularly vocal in that central role in defence, as the Reds put into practice the pressing drills from Chicago.
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Ugarte: Communication is important!
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Notable, too, were the marauding runs of Leny Yoro, who was happy to partner in attack with Amad, fulfilling the right-wing-back role again. We know the attacking qualities of Amad, so it was a first-half injury-time moment where he tackled well in defence and won a free-kick that stood out. Likewise, we know the defensive ability of Leny, so his composure in the final third 29 minutes in was good to see.
In midfield, Ugarte and Mainoo brought energy. The latter, Ruben explained the day before, is a “big talent” who “needs to increase the rhythm, the pace.”
“I’m always on top of that with Kobbie,” Ruben said, “because he’s so good sometimes, but he can be better.”
The young England international looks set to play in a deeper role in the coming campaign.
“Last year, he played more in front,” Amorim explained. “I think his perfect position is more near the ball, always with the ball.”
A 45th-minute highlight on the right wing saw him playing with that pace, moving it fast after a good quick ball out from Altay Bayindir. Cunha received it centrally with a fantastic direction-changing touch that sold his man. These were good signs.
Overhead, a private plane circled endlessly, providing the pilot and passengers with a particularly unique view of this game. In this massive stadium, those at the top of the third tier might have had a similar sight beneath them, and they were loving it.
Bruno’s second-half goal provided the moment of magic those in attendance wanted. It was a beautiful strike. And those behind the goal it was scored in enjoyed the second half, watching United’s substitutes warm up right in front of them. Harry Maguire was the most popular, with a huge cheer soon greeting him as he was brought on alongside nine other outfielders, shortly after Jarrad Bowen got one back for the Hammers with a fine finish.
While there were good moments late on — Chido Obi showed great footwork 72 minutes in — the game ended without significant further chances for either side, until Bayindir made an excellent save late on.
Ruben was pleased by some of United’s pressing in New Jersey, but wants better control in possession.
Amorim admitted post-match that it was always going to be difficult for the 10 players brought on to have the same rhythm as those who started.
“We defended well one-vs-one,” he said, beginning with the positives. “We pressed high, especially in the goal-kicks, that helped us to win the ball. But I think we need to have more long possessions when we win the ball. Sometimes, when we were near the box, we tried to find the small spaces and we can handle the ball into the box a little bit more. We suffered a little bit after the changes, but it was a good test to improve the team. It’s really hard to go on the pitch with a lot of young kids. But you saw, we have a lot to improve.”
And, plenty of time to do it. United’s players have a day off on Sunday and will have the chance to enjoy some local culture in Chicago, with many set to attend the baseball. Others have been eyeing up one of the many beaches.
Wherever they go, they’ll likely bump into some United fans. As Ugarte said, impressively conducting his first interview in English having learnt a great deal in recent months, “In the USA there is a lot of United fans we can see every day, in the hotel and the street. It is important to understand where we are. We are enjoying but we have a lot of responsibility.”
The players won’t be taking any fans back to Manchester with them, no matter the shouts from the stand, but they’ll be leaving a little sprinkle of MUFC in New Jersey, Chicago and soon Atlanta, too.
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Sunday 27 July 2025 11:49
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