From Las Vegas to Bangkok, EPL’s top teams ready for pre-season action
Most of these tours were scrapped due to the pandemic, but they are back this year as clubs seek to reconnect with their overseas fan base, sponsors and partners.
Lee U-Wen
IT WASN’T too long ago - just 6 weeks, to be exact - when Manchester City finally outlasted Liverpool in one of the most dramatic conclusions to an English Premier League (EPL) season to win a fourth championship in the last 5 years.
The Citizens were trailing by 2 goals at home to Aston Villa, but they produced a roaring comeback in the second half with 3 strikes in 6 magical minutes to win the match and retain their title, breaking every Liverpool heart in the process.
Soon, the 20 teams in the top division of English football will do battle again. But before the new campaign begins on the weekend of Aug 6, many of the clubs will be flying all over the world for their pre-season tours.
Most of these lucrative trips to key markets like the United States, Australia and South-east Asia were scrapped in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, but they are back this year as the EPL teams seek to reconnect with their overseas fan base, sponsors and partners.
These tours usually see the clubs play an exhibition match or two in each city they visit, which the managers use to get their players back to full match fitness after their summer vacations. In some instances, these pre-season friendlies are also the first opportunity for fans to see a club’s new signings in action.
BT Weekend takes a closer look at what each of last season’s top 6 teams have been up to as they strengthen their squads, and where they will be on their tours.
Manchester City
Just when you think this all-conquering Manchester City squad could not get any more powerful, manager Pep Guardiola went out to secure the signature of Norwegian striker Erling Braut Haaland - one of the most lethal young attackers in world football today - from Germany’s Borussia Dortmund.
The Citizens will need all the firepower they can get, especially after Gabriel Jesus’ recent transfer to Arsenal. There is also some talk of Raheem Sterling making a move to Chelsea in the coming weeks.
Guardiola’s men will head to the US for the pre-season preparations, with a match against Mexican team Club America in Houston, Texas on Jul 20. City will then play Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich 3 days later in what will be the first football match held at the 81,000-seater Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
On Jul 30, City will go head-to-head with Liverpool in the Community Shield at Leicester’s King Power Stadium, the traditional curtain-raiser fixture to the new EPL season.
Liverpool
It was a case of “so near, yet so far” for Liverpool last season, as they came extremely close to winning the quadruple, but eventually ended up with just the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup. It speaks volumes for how far the Reds have progressed over the last 5 years, that a runners-up finish in the EPL and Champions League can be regarded as a disappointment.
Jurgen Klopp wasted no time in beefing up his squad, adding Darwin Nunez, Fabio Carvalho and Calvin Ramsay in recent weeks.
The players will rack up the frequent flyer miles this month, with their pre-season tour seeing them play 6 games in 5 different countries.
They will be in Bangkok to face arch-rivals Manchester United on Jul 12, before boarding a 2-hour flight to Singapore to take on Crystal Palace at the National Stadium on Jul 15.
Liverpool then play RB Leipzig in Germany and RB Salsburz in Austria, and round off their preparations with that Community Shield against Manchester City and an appearance at Anfield to face French team Strasbourg on Jul 31.
Chelsea
There is fresh optimism at Chelsea under new owner Todd Boehly, with German coach Thomas Tuchel said to have more than £200 million (S$337.3 million) to spend on new players. With the Blues coming so close to silverware last season (they were runners-up in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup finals), Tuchel knows the current squad needs a bit of a revamp if they are to challenge for honours this time.
The likes of Raphinha and Raheem Sterling could arrive soon if they can reach an agreement, a much-needed double boost after striker Romelu Lukaku’s departure to Inter-Milan on a season-long loan.
Chelsea’s pre-season tour takes them to the US to play Club America in Las Vegas on Jul 16, Charlotte FC in Charlotte, North Carolina on Jul 20, and a London derby against Arsenal in Orlando, Florida on Jul 23.
Tottenham Hotspur
A late flourish saw Tottenham Hotspur win 4 of their last 5 EPL fixtures last season to leapfrog North London neighbours Arsenal into fourth place, which brought the reward of a place in the Champions League.
With manager Antonio Conte committing his future to the club, he has been hard at work to strengthen his squad, with Fraser Forster, Ivan Perisic and Yves Bissouma all signing on the dotted line. Everton striker Richarlison and Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet have both been heavily linked with a move to the club too, although nothing is confirmed as of press time.
Tottenham are flying to Seoul for 2 games this month - against Team K League on Jul 13 and Spanish club Sevilla on Jul 16. Both those fixtures should see a full house to welcome back Spurs’ South Korean superstar Son Heung-min, who won the Golden Boot last season with 23 goals.
Spurs are also due to play Rangers in Scotland on Jul 23 before heading to Haifa in Israel to take on Italian side Roma on Jul 30.
Arsenal
The Gunners finished 11 points above Manchester United but still ended in a disappointing fifth place last season, which saw them miss out on the Champions League. Manager Mikel Arteta has been active in the transfer window, bringing in Gabriel Jesus, Marquinhos, Fabio Vieira and Matt Turner.
Arsenal play their first pre-season friendly away to Nurnberg in Germany on July 8, and then travel to the US for 3 games - against Everton (in Baltimore on Jul 16), Orlando City (in Orlando, Florida on Jul 20) and Chelsea (on Jul 23, also in Orlando). They will be at home at the Emirates Stadium to face Spanish club Sevilla on Jul 30 for their final tune-up game.
Manchester United
Another season, another new manager at the helm at Manchester United. This time, the club are pinning their hopes on Erik ten Hag to revive them from their slumber, but it’s anyone’s guess if the former Ajax Amsterdam coach will be able to turn things around so quickly.
With the team due to fly to Bangkok next weekend for the first pre-season game against Liverpool, it’s worrying that ten Hag has yet to make a major signing. Reports suggest that Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong and Feyenoord defender Tyrell Malacia could arrive soon, while Donny van de Beek has returned to Old Trafford after completing a loan spell at Everton.
That said, the Red Devils are still one of the most popular football clubs in the world, and they can expect a thunderous reception at each of their pre-season stops.
After Thailand, they will be in Melbourne to play Melbourne Victory (Jul 15) and Crystal Palace (Jul 19), and Perth to play Aston Villa (Jul 23). They round off their pre-season with fixtures against 2 Spanish teams - Atletico Madrid in Oslo (Jul 30) and Rayo Vallecano in Manchester (Jul 31).
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