Bruno Fernandes has praised two Manchester United stars after winning against Bournemouth in pre-season this week.
Manchester United delivered a commanding 4-1 win over Bournemouth in their second Premier League Summer Series clash at Soldier Field in Chicago.
Although some supporters were disappointed not to see new signings Matheus Cunha or Bryan Mbeumo involved, the team’s performance more than made up for it.
Ruben Amorim’s side were in control from the first whistle, with their intensity and sharpness proving too much for Bournemouth to cope with.
Patrick Dorgu was the standout performer on the night, earning Man of the Match honours. He set up Rasmus Højlund’s opener with a well-placed assist before getting on the scoresheet himself minutes later.
Amad added a third shortly after the break, and youngster Ethan Williams wrapped things up with a fourth following a string of substitutions.
Bournemouth grabbed a late consolation, but United were comfortable winners in a one-sided affair and Bruno Fernandes was delighted with the performance of some of his teammates.
Fernandes praises two United stars after Bournemouth clash
Pre-season is obviously about preparing for the new season but most people see it as an opportunity for young stars to impress. Williams did exactly that, grabbing a goal just one minute after coming off the bench.
It was a dream moment for the Academy starlet, who could end up staying at Old Trafford this season to fight for a place in Amorim’s squad.
After full-time, club captain Fernandes offered praise for the 19-year-old on social media. “Well done kid,” he wrote on his Instagram story, accompanied by a clapping emoji.
The Portuguese midfielder couldn’t leave the praise there, however, and he had to add another message for Man of the Match Dorgu, who has been United’s standout player so far this summer and earned praise from Amorim for his ‘impressive’ progress.
“What a game, beast,” the United captain added, with a picture of him high-fiving the Danish youngster.
Some fans being proven wrong about Dorgu
Dorgu arrived at the club during the January window, right in the middle of what turned out to be the worst Premier League season in United’s history; hardly the ideal setting for any young player. Still, he handled the difficult circumstances admirably.
Understandably, he went through a rough patch, and as a 20-year-old newcomer, he became an easy target for criticism from some fans.
However, those early doubts are quickly being silenced. Dorgu is clearly settling into his new surroundings and showing visible signs of growth and adaptation.
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While no one should have expected a finished product when the Danish defender first joined, his physical qualities were already a clear step up compared to most of the squad. Now, those strengths are becoming even more refined.
Crucially, he’s also starting to develop stronger on-pitch chemistry with his teammates, a sign that things are beginning to click for him.
But this progress isn’t some unexpected breakout; it’s the natural development curve that most supporters anticipated.
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