Ruben Amorim says Manchester United look like a different team compared to last season after pre-season victory over Bournemouth

Ruben Amorim says Manchester United "look like a different team" after they earned their second victory in the Premier League Summer Series.

United followed up their 2-1 win over West Ham by beating Bournemouth 4-1 on Thursday morning, even without new signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.

There are indications that the same players who struggled last season in the Premier League are now more comfortable in Amorim's shape.

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"It was a good game. We played with intensity. We were aggressive and that is something that we need to improve from last season," said Amorim. "We had better possession compared to the last game, so they are listening.

"Of course, scoring first in the beginning of the games can change the confidence of the team. We changed some positions and you feel that they know what to do in different positions.

"It was a good test. We controlled quite well the runs of Evanilson and Semenyo one against one. Luke Shaw was also really strong. So it was a good day.

"It was just a pre-season game but the feeling with the same players, even being a pre-season game, if you look at the same players now playing, it looks like a different team and that is a good sign."

Amorim also indicated that United's improvement has come from a better culture as the club looks to offload Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia, having sent Marcus Rashford on loan to Barcelona.

Amorim said: "More than the results is the way they are playing. They are playing better also because they are connecting better with each other, not just on the pitch, but off the pitch.

"They are stronger. They are faster in this moment. Of course, it's pre-season, but you can see the intensity is completely different. I can see that the data from the minutes are completely different.

"We are improving, but again, it's a pre-season game. The pressure is going to be so much different during the season, but it's important for them to understand that the same players can play a different game."

Rasmus Hojlund opened the scoring for Man Utd amid the club's move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko.

Amorim believes United have improved because of the improvement in Hojlund's performances.

"People focus on the goals and we suffer a lot because of the lack of goals," said Amorim. "I think not just the goals, but the way he connects the play every time we have to kick the ball [long]. The ability for him to hold the defender and to connect in support is helping us a lot to play better and we are playing better because he's playing better.

"I'm really happy with Rasmus. I don't know what is going to happen until the end of the market. The important thing is that the strikers that are here are working really well, are improving, are helping the team and that is the most important thing."

Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola was also full of praise for United.

"We are very far right now from United," he said. "They are a hell of a team. They have signed very well and today they showed they are above us in this moment."

Analysis: Amorim style taking shape?

Sky Sports' Adam Bate:

Amorim had insisted all along that perhaps the changes that he wanted to make at Old Trafford would be easier to implement during a summer and there were encouraging signs in Chicago that the worst of his time at United could now be behind him.

There were plenty of positives in this performance against Bournemouth that went deeper than the result. In difficult conditions, United moved the ball impressively and played with real intensity and no little cohesion. In other words, it was different.

There were interchanges between Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount, the latter adding weight to the theory that Amorim's system will suit him in the long term. Patrick Dorgu, having shown himself to be a useful outlet last season, suggested he can build on that promise.

This is pre-season and there are dangers in reading too much into it - particularly given that new signings Cunha and Mbeumo did not feature. But perhaps that is also a good sign. The same players looked a lot better. Light at the end of a long tunnel for Amorim.

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(c) Sky Sports 2025: Ruben Amorim says Manchester United look like a different team compared to last season after pre-season victory over Bournemouth