Chicago has embraced the arrival of Manchester United ahead of their meeting with Bournemouth at Soldier Field for the second outing of the Premier League Summer Series.
Ruben Amorim’s side enters the Wednesday evening fixture (Thursday morning for those in Manchester) on somewhat of a high following a promising 2-1 victory against West Ham at MetLife Stadium.
Elsewhere, the Cherries earned a 3-0 win against Everton following a strong second-half showing, with goals from Philip Billing, Dango Ouattara, and Daniel Adu-Adjei.
United play in the Windy City for the first time in a decade, having entertained Paris Saint-Germain in 2015. Goals from Blaise Matuidi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic sealed a 2-0 victory for the French side on that occasion.
With the suggestion that the travelling contingent will have to wait a little longer to see their latest attacking recruit, a sense of positivity continues to emanate from a visibly leaner Manchester squad.
What to expect from Manchester United on their latest pre-season venture
First and foremost, it would appear that the United faithful will not welcome Bryan Mbeumo onto Soldier Field this evening, with Amorim setting the tone for future outings.
“Bryan is starting slowly,” the former Sporting chief told MUTV.
“He is not going to play in the next one. We hope to have Bryan in the last game [against Everton]. He’s training now, so we’ll see.”
Despite a regular presence in front of the cameras in the US, Joshua Zirkzee has been battling a niggling injury. He remains uncertain, while Noussair Mazraoui also missed out against the Hammers due to a minor issue.
Although accelerating his recovery, Andre Onana is again unlikely to play any part in Chicago.
Naturally, Amorim’s selection will generate plenty of talking points, with Bruno Fernandes providing a brace in a more advanced role against Graham Potter’s men.
Additionally, the midfield partnership of Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo offered much positivity throughout the fanbase, with the former providing an eye-catching display of technique and battling capabilities.
Bournemouth have received a welcome boost with the return of Tyler Adams, following additional time off after his Gold Cup commitments. While the club’s new shotstopper, Djordje Petrovic, performed well in their previous outing following his move from Chelsea.
Predicted Manchester United starting XI: (3-4-2-1): Bayindir; Yoro, De Ligt, Maguire; Amad, Mainoo, Ugarte, Shaw; Cunha, Fernandes; Hojlund
Date: Thursday, July 31 / Wednesday, July 30
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, United States
Kick-off time: 2.30 a.m. BST / 9.30 p.m. ET / 6.30 p.m. PT
Will you be ready and able for this latest pre-season adventure? Let us know in the comments or across our social channels.
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