For all the progress made by Major League Soccer over the past few years, Manchester United's US pre-season tour has provided a timely reminder of the gulf in quality between MLS and the top European leagues. For the majority of the fixtures to date, it has been men against boys.
On paper, the tour posed some tricky tests. A stop in Seattle pitted the Premier League champions against the Sounders, one of MLS' most talented teams. Seattle are among the Western Conference contenders, sitting just behind David Beckham's LA Galaxy. None of that counted for much as United thumped the Sounders 7-0, with Wayne Rooney grabbing a 21-minute hat-trick.
Some felt a clash with the MLS All-Stars would be a tougher proposition. So much for that - United waltzed to a 4-0 victory, with the goals shared around between Anderson, Ji-Sung Park, Dimitar Berbatov and Danny Welbeck. By the end, United were toying with their opponents. In truth, the score could have matched the demolition in Seattle.
While the tour has been hugely lucrative for the MLS, with huge crowds flocking to see the United stars up close, the scorelines have not gone unnoticed. Bear in mind, Sir Alex Ferguson's men are still building match fitness after a restful summer. With no World Cup or European Championships, Rooney and company had a rare opportunity to recharge their batteries before returning to training in early July.
But that means that the United stars are likely at about 80% fitness, with the Community Shield ahead next weekend to cap off the pre-season workout. The MLS, meanwhile, has been up and running since March.
Admittedly, Manchester City have not overwhelmed MLS opponents in the same way on their North American tour, beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 with a late winner and overcoming the LA Galaxy on penalties after a 1-1 draw. But again the fitness factor must be taken into account.
For United players and fans, there is plenty to smile about. The tour has confirmed the team's status as favourites to retain the Premier League title and showcased the potential of Ashley Young and Phil Jones as well as Federico Macheda and Welbeck. However, for their MLS opponents it has been a harsh learning experience. The game is steadily improving in North America but the signs suggest that MLS clubs will never close the gap on Europe's best.
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