Young Relishing Clash With Liverpool

Ashley Young says “there is no better game” for Manchester United to finish the tour with than a meeting with Liverpool in the International Champions Cup final in Miami.

The Reds’ 3-1 victory over Real Madrid in Ann Arbor on Saturday confirmed United’s place at the top of ICC Group A and in the final at the Sun Life Stadium where Brendan Rodgers’ men will be the opposition after the Merseysiders claimed top spot in Group B.

Young, who netted twice in the win against Real and picked up the Man of the Match award, says everyone is relishing an early meeting with our Barclays Premier League rivals in a game that United are determined to win.

“There is no better game to finish the tour with,” declared Young in an interview with ManUtd.com. “We all know the rivalry with the two teams – it’ll be a great occasion and everyone can’t wait. People may look at it as pre-season but it’s Liverpool and we want to go out and win the game and the trophy.

“It was a fantastic result [against Madrid]. We wanted to be on the front foot from the start and that’s what happened. We only needed a draw but we’re Manchester United so we were only focused on the win. And we want to win the whole tournament now.

“It doesn’t matter that it’s pre-season, we’re here to try to pick up the trophy. We’re in the final and we want to win it.”

Young’s opening goal came at the end of a slick passing move from the Reds who dominated the first half and were 2-1 up at the break after Young had curled a second strike in following Gareth Bale's equaliser.

“It’s always nice to get on the scoresheet and the build-up to the first goal was fantastic. I think there were only two players not involved in it and I’m definitely claiming the second goal!” he added, in reference to his cross which Wayne Rooney almost met with his head. “Wazza told me on the pitch he didn’t touch it so I’m delighted to get two.

“We trained at the stadium the night before the game and the pitch was a bit bumpy but our passing was sharp and that really helped us. You have to deal with the conditions you face and do your best and we did that. Our passing game was fantastic – that showed for the first goal when there were 20 passes before we actually scored - it was brilliant to finish that off.

“If you look at the performance overall and all the displays we’ve put on during the tour things have gone well,” he added. “It’s a new system and a new way to play but everyone has to adapt it and understands the manager’s philosophy. The formation gives us more time to play and more space and we’re all enjoying it. We’ve just played against the European champions and I think we deserved to win.”