He came from the dressing room in Soldier Field with a Swagger and Rasmus Hojlund left with a clear message that he is not ready to give up his career in Manchester United as the Benjamin Sesko club sign.
“Does anyone want to talk to me?” Hojlund said when he approached the waiting media in Chicago, still tied up at the back of his right leg.
Of course they did that. Hojlund had not only scored the opening goal in the impressive 4-1 victory of Bournemouth in the Premier League Summer Series, he had given a timely response to speculation that every deal for Sesko could spell the end for him at Old Trafford two years after arrival in an £ 72 million.
After the game in Chicago, Ruben Amorim admitted that he does not know what the future has in store for the 22-year-old at United. Did the club say anything to Hojlund?
“Nothing so far,” he replied. 'I think the most important thing for me is to just keep working hard and stay focused and then we will of course see what is happening. I think my plan is very clear and that is for me to keep fighting for my place, whatever happens.
'The competition is great for me, it sharpens me. I am more than ready. I feel sharp, so I welcome everything that comes. I think it is good with the competition and it only sharpens the team.
“I'm still very young. I think people forget that sometimes I am only 22. Of course, not every striker at the age of 22 scores 100 goals. But I learned a lot, I think you can see in my game.
'I start to develop and get even better in the base. Now it's just about sharpening myself and I have done it very well in the preseason so far. I just concentrate on it to continue that. '
The Denmark International has so far scored 61 goals for Club and Land. For comparison: Harry Kane had 53 at the same age.
Hojlund was only 20 when he came to United in August 2023. The transfer costs brought great expectations on young shoulders, and there was an even greater burden when he was asked to lead the attack from the start.
“When I came, (Anthony) Martial was there too,” said Hojlund. “He had many injuries, so I clearly had to take a lot of playing time. That is only part of it. You are not going to tell me that I should not play because I want to play every game.
“But with some help I could have done helping the games, especially in the beginning. I feel that I have become a lot and I am ready for what is coming. '
Hojlund ended with a promising 16 goals in his first season. But that fell to 10 last term in a desperate united team that would endure the worst season of the club in more than half a century.
“Well, it was clearly a difficult season for all of us,” he admitted Hojlund. 'I think I should have done better, I think everyone knows. But it is also a team thing that we are getting better now. I think we have now shown in these two (tour) games that we are progressing correctly and looking forward to what is coming.
'We played many games last year, so it was difficult for me to implement something for me in the game, especially training on the field. So it has been many videos, especially with my movement in the box, and also the timing of my runs was very important.
'Strikers always want to score goals. It is very important to me. I think it was a bit rough after last season and I tried to grind myself in the course of the vacation and I feel very, very good.
'I try to be better every day. I try to work on my game. I learn a lot and start to get better and better. '
Hojlund has obtained advice from former United Striker Louis Saha and a colleague Dane who knows something about the success at Old Trafford.
'Of course I spoke a bit with Peter Schmeichel. He did very well and helped me a lot. He often comes to the camp where we are in the national team, and I speak with him because his son (Kasper) clearly also plays in the national team. '
And then there is his Denmark -teammate Patrick Dorgu, who came to United in January. Dorgu crossed to Hojlund to go United against Bournemouth before he scored the second himself.
“We have a very good relationship,” said Hojlund. 'There is only one year between us and we have many ordinary friends. We also come from the same kind of area in Denmark and we are really starting to bind.
'Of course I also had a very, very good relationship with Christian (Eriksen) and Victor (Lindelof), but there is a bit of an age gap. It will be like Big Brother and Little Brother, while I and Patrick also seem more like ages of age. '
There was only one problem to solve. Was Hojlund also claiming United's third goal after the shot of Amad Diallo seemed to be touching on the road?
“Yes, that's me. It's absolutely mine. It's my goal, “he kept full. “The ball touched my shin, so I'm definitely going to claim that. I can't do anything about it. It is not my fault that he shot it against my leg. '