The US tour comes to an end, and while United still have 2 pre-season clashes to come closer to home, the US tour has seen Ten Hag’s side take on some of Europe’s top sides. It’s been a mixed bag in terms of performances, with a few injuries and knocks along the way also adding an extra concern for the manager, but it’s been largely an opportunity for the squad to gel, and gain a level of fitness which is slowly increasing over the weeks.

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Teams

Manchester United: Heaton (Onana 46′), Williams (Martinez 61′), Maguire (Shaw 61′), Lindelof (Evans 61′), Dalot (Wan-Bissaka 61′), Eriksen (Mount 61′), McTominay (Fernandes 61′), Van de Beek (Casemiro 61′), Pellistri (Rashford 61′), Sancho (Hugill 77′), Forson (Antony 37′)

Subs: Bishop, Fernandez, Gore, Mejbri

Borussia Dortmund: Kobel (Meyer 46′), Ryerson (Meunier 62′ – Pohlmann 68′), Hummels (Papadopoulos 76′), Sule (Bueno 76′), Wolf (Bensebaini 46′), Brandt (Besong 76′), Can (Reus 62′), Sabitzer (Ozcan 46′), Adeyemi (Bamba 62′), Haller (Hazard 62′), Malen (Moukoko 62′)

Subs: Lotka, Blank

Manchester United 2-3 Borussia Dortmund

Manchester United fell to a 3–2 defeat against Borussia Dortmund in their pre-season clash on 31 July 2023 at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Erik ten Hag’s side started brightly, dominating possession and creating early chances, and they were rewarded when Diogo Dalot opened the scoring with a well-placed strike from the edge of the box after 24 minutes. United looked comfortable for much of the first half, but defensive lapses late in the period proved costly as Dortmund struck twice in quick succession through Donyell Malen, turning the game on its head just before the interval.

The second half saw a much-changed United lineup, with several substitutions disrupting their rhythm. Despite this, the Premier League side continued to push forward in search of an equaliser and were rewarded when Antony pounced on a loose ball inside the box to make it 2–2 midway through the half. Dortmund, however, remained dangerous on the counterattack, exploiting United’s defensive uncertainty. Substitute Youssoufa Moukoko restored the German side’s lead in the 71st minute, finishing calmly past Tom Heaton after a neat exchange of passes.

United pressed for another comeback in the closing stages but were unable to find a breakthrough, with Dortmund’s defence holding firm to secure the win. While the result ended a disappointing U.S. tour for Ten Hag’s men, the match provided valuable minutes for several squad players and highlighted areas needing improvement before the competitive season. For Dortmund, the performance underlined their sharpness and attacking cohesion, offering encouragement ahead of their Bundesliga campaign.

Talking Points

Manchester United suffered a third consecutive pre-season defeat as they went down 3–2 to Borussia Dortmund on 31 July 2023. The result compounded growing concerns about the team’s sharpness ahead of the new Premier League season, with Erik ten Hag’s side struggling to find consistency in attack and defence. Despite bright spells, particularly in the first half, costly mistakes allowed Dortmund to take control, leaving United without a win in their opening trio of pre-season fixtures.

A significant talking point from the match was Ten Hag’s decision to rotate heavily, bringing in numerous changes that disrupted the team’s rhythm. The constant shuffle of personnel appeared to hinder United’s ability to build cohesive attacking moves, with the team creating fewer clear-cut chances after the interval. While the experiment allowed fringe players to gain valuable minutes, it also highlighted the challenge of balancing pre-season fitness work with establishing on-field understanding.

Looking ahead, United still have two pre-season games remaining to fine-tune their squad before the competitive season kicks off. These matches represent crucial opportunities to restore confidence, integrate new signings, and address defensive frailties exposed against Dortmund. With the clock ticking down to the Premier League opener, Ten Hag will be eager to see a more settled and sharp performance from his players in order to head into the season on a positive note.