manchester united legends tour 2023

The 2023 Soccer Champions Tour is being produced in partnership with AEG, the world's leading sports and live entertainment company.

“AEG is excited about the partnership with Soccer Champions Tour and Legends to bring the most successful soccer clubs in the world to fans across the U.S.,” said Tom Braun, Sr. Vice President, Soccer & Business Operations and Business Development at AEG. “Every matchup in this series is of the highest caliber and we’re thrilled that American soccer fans will have the opportunity to see these epic games featuring legendary teams live and in person.”

Soccer Champions Tour Schedule

Saturday, July 22 FC Barcelona vs. Juventus at Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA

Sunday, July 23 Real Madrid vs. AC Milan at The Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, CA

Wednesday, July 26 Arsenal vs. FC Barcelona at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA

Wednesday, July 26 Real Madrid vs. Manchester United at NRG Stadium, Houston, TX

Thursday, July 27 Juventus vs. AC Milan at Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, CA

Saturday, July 29 FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX

Tuesday, August 1 AC Milan vs. FC Barcelona at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV

Wednesday, August 2 Juventus vs. Real Madrid at Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL

Exclusive pre-sale tickets will be available starting Tuesday, May 16, with the general on-sale ticket access beginning on Friday, May 19. For access to the pre-sale, all fans are invited to sign up at www.SoccerChampionsTour.com . All individual game and venue-specific information is also available at the tour website and fans can follow @TheSCTour on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter for updates.

The matches remain subject to approval by the relevant football authorities.

AC Milan AC Milan was founded in 1899 and it is one of the most iconic and successful clubs in football history. With an internationally recognized brand off the pitch, AC Milan is synonymous with style and elegance, embodied in the Rossoneri’s red and black jersey. On the pitch, AC Milan has the most international trophies of any Italian club with seven UEFA Champions League titles and five European Super Cups – also included in their trophy cabinet are 19 league titles (the latest of which was won at the end of last season). The club’s star players include Portuguese forward Rafael Leão, French left-back Theo Hernandez, Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali, French goalkeeper Mike Maignan, and Canadian-born center-back Fikayo Tomori.

Arsenal Commonly referred to as the Gunners, Arsenal is a London-based club founded in 1886 and is among the top clubs in the Premier League this season. The club has won 13 league titles and a record 14 FA Cups. Arsenal played in the first English League match to be broadcast live on radio in 1927 against Sheffield United. Ten years later, Arsenal played a split squad exhibition match which was the first football match in the world to be televised live. English wingers Bukayo Saka and Reiss Nelson, Brazilian center-back Gabriel Magalhaes, and Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus lead Arsenal’s star-studded squad.

FC Barcelona FC Barcelona, founded in 1899 and colloquially known as Barça, competes in La Liga and is one of the most successful European clubs in history. The club maintains a philosophy deeply rooted in its local Catalan identity and is collectively owned by more than 146,000 members. Due to its special personality, FC Barcelona is recognized as being ‘more than a club’. The team’s distinctive style of play is projected around the world by the best players and coaches in combination with the club’s famous reliance on homegrown talent. The club has won 73 major domestic titles, including 26 La Liga titles and 31 Copa Del Rey titles, as well as five Champions League titles and three FIFA Club World Cups. Barcelona is led by manager and club legend Xavi Hernández and has a roster of international talent including Spaniard midfielders Gavi and Pedri, Polish forward Robert Lewandowski and German goalkeeper Ter Stegen.

Juventus Football Club Founded in 1897 in Turin, Italy, Juventus is one of Italy’s oldest and most decorated soccer teams with more Italian league championships than any other team. Also known as Juve, the club competes in Serie A, the top tier of the Italian soccer leagues, and is the first European club to win all three major UEFA competitions. The club’s current roster includes Brazilian defender Danilo, French midfielder Paul Pogba and Italian forward Federico Chiesa.

Manchester United Based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England, and often referred to as the Red Devils or simply, United, Manchester United is one of the most widely supported soccer teams in the world. United is a winner of a record 20 league titles and have won every major trophy in England and Europe. They hold the record for the largest crowd at a soccer match in U.S. history with 109,318 fans for a 2014 match against Real Madrid at Michigan Stadium. Manchester United’s squad includes Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes, Portuguese right-back Diogo Dalot, English left-back Luke Shaw, Argentine center-back Lisandro Martinez, and Brazilian defensive midfielder Casemiro.

Real Madrid CF Real Madrid C.F. is a sports organization with over 121 years of history and was named “Best Club of the 20th Century” by FIFA. It is the club with the most European Cups in both football (14) and basketball (10). Real Madrid has millions of fans in all corners of the world, with more than 456 million followers on social media, and is for the fourth year in a row the most valuable football club in Europe according to The European Elite 2022 report. This past season, Real Madrid won La Liga (35) and the Spanish Super Cup (12) under the direction of Carlo Ancelotti. With stars like Karim Benzema, Luka Modrić, Thibaut Courtois, Vinicius Júnior, and Toni Kroos among others, in 2022 Real Madrid won the Champions League for the fourteenth time.

Allegiant Stadium Located adjacent to the world-famous Las Vegas Strip and home to the Las Vegas Raiders, Allegiant Stadium is an award-winning global events destination. A state-of-the-art, multipurpose venue with a capacity of 65,000, Allegiant Stadium has hosted world-class music artists such as Garth Brooks, The Rolling Stones, Guns N’ Roses, Taylor Swift and BTS with more legendary concerts to come. The fully enclosed stadium is also home to the UNLV Rebels football team and has hosted premier sporting events such as the CONCACAF Gold Cup Final, Pac-12 Championship Game, Las Vegas Bowl, and WWE SummerSlam. The venue also hosted the NFL Pro Bowl in both 2022 and 2023 and has been selected to host Super Bowl LVIII in 2024. Allegiant Stadium is committed to giving back to the community through numerous diversity, inclusion, and community outreach initiatives.

AT&T Stadium AT&T Stadium is the largest, most technologically advanced entertainment venue in the world. The stadium features two monumental arches, the world’s largest HDTV video board cluster, an expansive retractable roof, and the largest retractable end zone doors in the world. Features of the stadium include seating for 80,000 and expandability for up to 100,000. In addition to being the home of the Dallas Cowboys since opening in 2009, the stadium has hosted Super Bowl XLV, the 2010 NBA All-Star Game, the annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, the 2014 NCAA Men’s Final Four, the 2015 inaugural College Football Playoff Championship Game, the 2015 50th Anniversary Academy of Country Music Awards show, and WrestleMania.

Camping World Stadium Camping World Stadium in Downtown Orlando has hosted a variety of world-class events, from the Electric Daisy Carnival to WrestleMania to the NFL Pro Bowl, alongside its signature annual events including the Florida Blue Florida Classic, the Cheez-It Bowl, the Citrus Bowl and the Florida Cup. The Orlando match at Camping World Stadium will be hosted by the Florida Cup, the Sunshine State’s largest annual international soccer and music event. Since 2015, the Florida Cup & FC Series has featured clubs from all over the world. Last year, Arsenal defeated Chelsea in the headline match at Camping World Stadium, setting the venue’s soccer attendance record.

Dignity Health Sports Park Dignity Health Sports Park is southern California’s home of world-class competition and training facilities for amateur, Olympic, collegiate and professional athletes. Managed by AEG Facilities, the $150 million, privately financed facility was developed by AEG on a 125-acre site on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) in Carson, California. Dignity Health Sports Park features a 25,174-seat stadium for soccer, football and other athletic competitions and outdoor concerts; an 8,000-seat tennis stadium; a 2,000-seat facility for track & field and a 2,450-seat indoor Velodrome – the VELO Sports Center – for track cycling. Dignity Health Sports Park is home to Major League Soccer’s LA Galaxy, the five-time MLS Cup Champions. Dignity Health Sports Park is also home of the United States Tennis Association’s (USTA) High Performance Training Center and the national team training headquarters for the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF). Additionally, Dignity Health Sports Park is home to Galaxy Park, a newly imagined complex on the campus of the facility that features five 5v5 soccer fields, three futsal courts, eight Pickleball courts, four Padel courts, and is home to a number of other recreational activities.

Levi’s Stadium Levi’s Stadium is a football stadium in Santa Clara, California which serves as the current home of the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. Levi’s Stadium is a multi-purpose facility with the flexibility to host a wide range of events, including domestic and international soccer, college football, motocross, concerts and various civic events, and is expandable for major events such as Super Bowl 50 which was hosted here in February of 2016. The $1.27 billion venue has 1.85 million square feet, seats approximately 68,500 and features 176 luxury suites and 9,000 club seats.

NRG Stadium NRG Park is the premier sports, convention, tradeshow/consumer show and entertainment complex located in Harris County, specifically Houston’s South Main corridor district. Four major facilities – NRG Stadium, NRG Center, NRG Arena and NRG Astrodome – encompass 350 acres and provide 26,000 parking spaces. NRG Park is home to the NFL’s Houston Texans, the Houston Livestock Show and RodeoTM, Super Bowl® XXXVIII & LI, WrestleMania® X-Seven & 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania, NCAA® Division I Men’s Basketball Championship South Regional 2008, 2010 & 2015, NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Final Four 2011, 2016 & 2023 and hosts over 500 events annually. In partnership with Lone Star Sports and Entertainment, NRG Stadium is a top venue for international soccer matches, including the Copa de Lone Star, Copa America Centenario, the 2010 MLS All-Star Game featuring Manchester United, the 2006 FC Barcelona U.S. tour, the International Champions Cup, the 2003 and 2008 matches between the United States and Mexico, and the 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2019, 2021 and 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cups.

The Rose Bowl Stadium The Rose Bowl Stadium, also known as America’s Stadium, is an American outdoor athletic venue located in Pasadena, California nestled in the scenic Arroyo Seco. The Rose Bowl Stadium opened its doors on October 28, 1922 and is recognized as a National Historic Landmark. The Rose Bowl has earned its world-class reputation by hosting five NFL Super Bowl games, the 1984 Olympic Soccer matches, the 1994 Men’s World Cup, the 1999 Women’s World Cup, four BCS National College Football Championship Games and the College Football Playoff Semifinal Game. The Rose Bowl is the proud home of the World’s Largest Flea Market, AmericaFest 4 th of July Celebration, community events, music festivals, world-class concerts, International and Premier League soccer matches, the annual Rose Bowl Game® and UCLA Bruins Football.

SoFi Stadium SoFi Stadium, the home of the Los Angeles Chargers and the Super Bowl LVI Champion Los Angeles Rams, is located at Hollywood Park, a near 300-acre sports and entertainment destination being developed by Los Angeles Rams Owner/Chairman E. Stanley Kroenke in Inglewood, California. The 3.1 million square-foot SoFi Stadium is the largest stadium in the NFL, as well as the first indoor-outdoor stadium. It seats approximately 70,000, expandable up to 100,000, with more than 260 luxury suites and more than 13,000 premium seats. SoFi Stadium was host to Super Bowl LVI in 2022, the College Football National Championship in 2023, WrestleMania in 2023, and will host the World Cup in 2026 and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic Games in 2028.

Media Assets

Click HERE for Soccer Champions Tour assets, including logo, schedule graphic, and video. Additional details about the event, including media accreditation for the Soccer Champions Tour, will be announced at a later date.

About Sixth Street

Sixth Street is a leading global investment firm with approximately $65 billion in assets under management and committed capital. The firm’s experience in global sports includes partnerships and investments with Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, the San Antonio Spurs, and the National Women’s Soccer League expansion club coming to the Bay Area in 2024. Sixth Street is also the majority investor in Legends in partnership with the Dallas Cowboys and New York Yankees. Sixth Street uses its long-term flexible capital, data-enabled capabilities, and One Team culture to develop themes and offer solutions to companies across all stages of growth. Founded in 2009, Sixth Street has more than 500 team members including over 180 investment professionals operating around the world. For more information, visit www.sixthstreet.com , or follow Sixth Street on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

About Legends

Founded in 2008, Legends is a premium experiences company with six divisions operating worldwide – Global Planning, Global Sales, Global Partnerships, Hospitality, Global Merchandise, and Global Technology Solutions – offering clients and partners a 360-degree data and analytics fueled service solution platform to elevate their brand and execute their vision. Currently, Legends works with marquee clients across business verticals including professional sports; collegiate; attractions; entertainment; and conventions and leisure. We are the industry leaders in designing, planning, and realizing exceptional experiences in sports and entertainment. For more information, visit www.Legends.net and follow @TheLegendsWay on Twitter and Instagram.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, AEG is the world's leading sports and live entertainment company. The company operates in the following business segments: Facilities, which through its affiliation with ASM Global, owns, manages or consults with more than 300 preeminent arenas, stadiums, convention centers and performing arts venues around the world; Music through AEG Presents, which is dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performances, including producing and promoting global and regional concert tours, music and special events and world-renowned festivals such as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival; Real Estate, which develops world-class venues, as well as major sports and entertainment districts like Crypto.com Arena, L.A. LIVE, Mercedes Platz in Berlin, Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai and The O2 in London; Sports, as the world's largest operator of high-profile sporting events and sports franchises including the LA Kings, LA Galaxy and Eisbären Berlin; Ticketing through AXS, a global platform delivering ticketing solutions for venues of all sizes, sports franchises and event organizers; and Global Partnerships, which oversees worldwide sales and servicing of sponsorships including naming rights, premium seating and other strategic partnerships. Through its worldwide network of venues, portfolio of powerful sports and music brands and its integrated entertainment districts, AEG entertains more than 160 million guests annually. More information about AEG can be found at www.aegworldwide.com .

Media Contact [email protected]

Release Summary

Soccer Champions Tour set for Jul 22-Aug 2 in US with 6 most iconic clubs-Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Juventus, AC Milan, Arsenal and Manchester United

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Soccer Champions Tour coming to US: Don't miss biggest clubs

by World Soccer Talk May 21, 2023

Soccer’s biggest competition in the United States this summer is the Soccer Champions Tour . Featuring Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Arsenal, Milan and Juventus, games are scheduled July 22 through August 2. If you want to get your Soccer Champions Tour ticket, there are three options to consider.

Before we delve into that, let’s share the details of who’s playing who, when and where:

2023 Soccer Champions Tour ticket options

Saturday, July 22 — FC Barcelona vs. Juventus — Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA —  Find tickets Sunday, July 23 — Real Madrid vs. AC Milan —  The Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, CA —  Find tickets

Wednesday, July 26 — Arsenal vs. FC Barcelona —  SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA —  Find tickets Wednesday, July 26 —  Real Madrid vs. Manchester United —  NRG Stadium, Houston, TX —  Find tickets

Thursday, July 27 —  Juventus vs. AC Milan —  Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, CA —  Find tickets Saturday, July 29 —  FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid —  AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX —  Find tickets

Tuesday, August 1 —  AC Milan vs. FC Barcelona —  Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV —  Find tickets Wednesday, August 2 —  Juventus vs. Real Madrid —  Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL —  Find tickets

How to get tickets

First, if you don’t want to wait, you can buy tickets through reputable sellers such as Vivid Seats who are offering World Soccer Talk readers an exclusive perk. You get $20 off your ticket order of $200+ when you use promo code SOCCER20 at checkout. Those tickets are available immediately, and you get a 100% buyer guarantee.

Second, from May 16 through May 17, tickets go on sale to supporters groups as well as fans who sign up via the Soccer Champions Tour website.

Third and finally, tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, May 19.

“We are proud to be partnering with the world’s most storied clubs, which have the world’s strongest and most passionate supporters, to provide this rare opportunity for American fans to experience the game at the highest level,” said Alan Waxman, Co-Founder and CEO at Sixth Street. “While this year’s tour consists of men’s clubs, we look forward to expanding next summer to bring the world’s best women’s clubs to local audiences around the globe, and in the future to evolve this series into a format with real games of consequence.”

Added Shervin Mirhashemi, CEO, Legends: “Legends is proud to bring fans of the beautiful game this unforgettable experience this summer and deliver a fan experience that will match the world-class soccer on the pitch. We can’t wait to see stadiums filled across the United States with fans cheering on some of the best clubs in the world as they compete in the Soccer Champions Tour.”

“AEG is excited about the partnership with Soccer Champions Tour and Legends to bring the most successful soccer clubs in the world to fans across the U.S.,” said Tom Braun, Sr. Vice President, Soccer & Business Operations and Business Development at AEG. “Every matchup in this series is of the highest caliber and we’re thrilled that American soccer fans will have the opportunity to see these epic games featuring legendary teams live and in person.”

For the complete list of teams playing in the United States this summer, here’s our schedule of summer friendlies .

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Manchester United’s U.S. tour: Ten Hag authority, ticket prices and a Glazer appearance

Erik ten Hag kept a tight grip on who could watch Manchester United train during their now-concluded pre-season tour of the United States. But the final session of the trip, in San Diego, was open to fans. Lasting about an hour, it provided a small window into the mind of a manager whose exacting standards and meticulous eye for detail are finding even greater influence at United as he enters his second campaign in charge.

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Ten Hag, wearing shorts, T-shirt and a baseball cap, to protect him from the Californian sunshine, stepped in whenever an aspect of a drill wasn’t to his liking.

One moment, in particular, stood out.

Antony was on the wing during a small-sided game and had space ahead to run into. Instead, he turned back and passed to Harry Maguire , who then went back again to goalkeeper Andre Onana . Ten Hag stopped things immediately and asked his players why they had funnelled the ball deeper rather than go forward.

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He then joined in the drill himself, a man who made over 200 first-team appearances for FC Twente in his Dutch homeland showing them how he wanted the move to go; picking up possession in midfield, beckoning a press from Alvaro Fernandez , then passing to Victor Lindelof and dropping into defence for the return.

Ball at his feet, Ten Hag ushered Maguire forwards so he would be available for his next pass.

Maguire moved into position and passed first-time to Jadon Sancho , who was in the false-nine role, the ball going beyond Antony, who was a decoy. Antony then spun in behind to get the final pass from Sancho and run clear.

It was a routine evident in United’s build-up play against Borussia Dortmund in the tour’s final match in Las Vegas on Sunday.

Bryce Guzzetta, a United fan who watched the session and is event coordinator for Red Devils of San Diego, a supporters’ club, said it came across as Ten Hag wanting to instil “muscle memory” into his players.

“He seemed very focused on people being in the right places at the right time and especially off the ball movement and awareness,” Guzzetta said. “It was good to get a peek behind the curtain.”

Erik ten Hag: 'It's the difference between a manager and a human being'

That peek included technical director, and former United and Scotland midfielder, Darren Fletcher playing a part in one of the training games, now 39, and putting in a good tackle.

The session, at the University of California/San Diego, had started with the goalkeepers — Onana, Tom Heaton , Dean Henderson and Nathan Bishop — playing rondos around mannequins in circles that increased in size, the emphasis on their footwork clear.

A drone went up into the sky to record events, and Ten Hag manoeuvred a blue mannequin into the precise position he desired, coming back to make an adjustment of a few inches after yanking it out of the grass. He waved to the 100-plus crowd in the stand as he ran back to the main group to deliver a talk.

This focus on minutiae from the manager extended to matters off the pitch, notably as far as the colour of club kit to be worn by players and staff each day. An email would land in all employee inboxes to instruct which version of three looks they should pick out of the wardrobe the next morning, right down to the socks — the idea being that everyone on the trip should look and be as one when on work duty. Making attendance at breakfast compulsory for the entire travelling party was applying the same principle.

Ten Hag’s control covered United’s commercial commitments on tour, too. He would read documents running to 30 pages which detailed the specific requirements of players at sponsorship events, and come back with changes, including matching certain members of his squad with the arranged activity. After a year in charge, he feels he knows his players’ personalities and wanted the events to be suitable.

While Ten Hag understands the commercial benefit travelling the globe like this brings, and how the £20million or so raised by each tour can help with signings, he also drew a line. “Once he’s made a decision, there is no changing his mind,” said a source close to the club.

Having looked at the schedule in advance, Ten Hag reduced the three commercial days to two, insisting his players needed some space to relax on the 11-day, four-match trip that also saw fixtures in New York and Houston, Texas.

Last Friday, July 28, was designated as a day off, with the players arranging three fourballs for nearby Torrey Pines golf course, which has staged the US Open and overlooks the Pacific Ocean. It was a 30-minute walk from the hotel which served as United’s base for that leg of the trip.

The evening before, United booked out the rooftop bar at a Marriott hotel overlooking the USS Midway, which was once the longest-serving aircraft carrier in U.S. Navy history (47 years) and is now a museum. Players and staff mingled before being allowed to do their own thing.

“What is important? Sleep, recovery, nutrition,” Ten Hag said during his sit-down interview with United reporters who travelled Stateside. “Three key areas, and when you don’t do this right, you have a problem.”

That tone was set from take-off, when United flew from Edinburgh following a July 19 friendly against French club Lyon at Murrayfield, the home of Scotland’s national rugby union team. The players were told to sleep so they could wake up for 8am New York time. On the way back to Manchester from Las Vegas two weeks later, they went to sleep early so their body clocks began getting adjusted to UK time.

Football director John Murtough had by then already returned to England, to complete the transfer of Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund . Murtough was in the U.S. at each stop before Vegas, however, and mixed with fans at functions in New York and San Diego.

Chief operating officer Collette Roche also attended several supporter meet-ups, which this summer were factored into a United pre-season tour for the first time. Usually, interactions between the club and fans are confined to impromptu gatherings outside a team hotel or open training session, but United were involved in 23 events across the four cities, which they estimate meant direct meetings with 5,000 supporters. Former United stars Bryan Robson, Denis Irwin, Andrew Cole and Wes Brown spoke multiple times.

That coordination is led by Rick McGagh, head of fan engagement and Richard Arnold’s first appointment after becoming chief executive in February last year. McGagh and Roche twice made three-hour round-trips from the team’s base in deep New Jersey to be at events in Manhattan, and answer questions from fans. Roche had a meeting with Ten Hag about the importance of including fan elements well in advance of flying out.

The Pingry School, in the New Jersey town of Basking Ridge, was chosen for its remoteness as well as its superb facilities. Set way past the suburbs and commuter towns surrounding New York City, the location allowed for privacy, with only a smattering of fans turning up for autographs compared to the hundreds seen at the more city-centre locations used in previous years.

The appeal for United was the pitch. First laid in 1994, to specifications made by the Italian national team ahead of the U.S. hosted World Cup that year, it is ideal for Premier League football clubs.

The rest of the facilities are high-end too. It’s officially known as the Miller A Bugliari ’52 Athletics Center in tribute to the school’s long-time coach. Bugliari is 87 and still coaching Pingry, where he had been a pupil and graduated in 1952, into his 63rd season. He is on good terms with Sir Alex Ferguson, having been introduced by mutual friend Charlie Stillitano, a Pingry School old boy and an influential figure in U.S. soccer.

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Bugliari is considered the most successful coach in U.S. school-level sport by number of games won, and when he oversaw his 900th victory in 2021, Ferguson rang him while he was still on the touchline and left a message of congratulations.

Stillitano was on site for United’s visit this summer under Ten Hag, with Pingry making alterations to accommodate the club, turning three squash courts into meeting rooms, with carpet being laid and televisions and massage tables installed. The school had 400lb of ice delivered each day to cater for players’ ice baths, according to the Tapinto Basking Ridge news site.

Security was tight. The local police department sent eight officers, Pingry had 11 operational staff dotted around, and United took 12 of their own guards.

Players did beckon school children over the barricade after one session to pose for pictures and sign autographs next to the team bus, which was decked in red and featuring landmarks from the cities they were visiting on this tour. David Fahey, Pingry’s director of institutional advancement, whose son got a photograph with Jadon Sancho, said: “That was above what we might have expected. The players were respectful and polite.”

A VIP tent, with speciality ice creams, bug repellent and towels that were iced but not wet, was erected so United co-owner Avram Glazer, his family, and other executives could mingle. Glazer attended training on the two days before the Arsenal game at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on Saturday, July 22, shaking Ten Hag’s hand but not having a full conversation. Ten Hag was eager to get out for training.

Glazer was seen after the match at the home of the NFL ’s New York Giants and New York Jets, but would only say, “I’m here to enjoy the game” when asked for a takeover update. He declined to answer a follow-up about a reported split among his siblings on how to proceed on a proposed sale.

Before kick-off, there was a tailgate in the car park. Organised by United, it was well attended and had a raucous atmosphere, with green and gold flares being set off as well as anti-Glazer chants breaking out.

Michael Stanley was one supporter in amongst it. “I feel like there’s just a fuel in the United States right now that there wasn’t before,” he said. “This feels monumental. This is like the first soccer game I’ve attended where the turnout is insane.”

Olivia Haberberger said: “I was in there for the green and gold flare and it was like tear gas in my face.”  

Stanley and Haberberger travelled from Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, a six-hour drive, for the game, and met their friends Sierra Daniels and Alec Goodwin, who live in New York City.

Andy Sookram caught a train across from New York’s eastern borough of Queens. He has been a United fan since 2006, when Cristiano Ronaldo ’s performances for Portugal at the World Cup got him hooked. “Then we won three in a row,” he said. “When people say, ‘Are you a glory hunter?’. (I answer) No, because (if I was) I would have supported Chelsea or Arsenal, who won it the three years before.

“It means a lot United have come out — I left my wife and child at home to come to the game.”

Sookram spent a year at university in England in 2014 and attended United matches throughout his stay. He does not think competitive Premier League or Champions League fixtures should move abroad, as happens in the NFL, which plays matches in England, Germany and Mexico: “To grow the game it would be great, but as a fan, it should stay in the UK. I respect tradition. Living in the UK, experiencing the culture, I do understand it.” He paid $230 (£181) for his ticket including fees — which is comparable to what it costs to attend an NFL game. “Ten Hag putting out the first-team squad is worth the money.”

When the tour got to San Diego, there was some anger among fans over ticket pricing, given United fielded their under-21 team in the match there.

That friendly against Wrexham , who play three divisions below the Premier League on the English football ladder but are big news in the U.S. and around the world because of Hollywood-star owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney and the Emmy-nominated documentary series following events at the club, had been billed as featuring a youth-focussed United side when first announced but locally there was anticipation that the crowd would see some senior-squad stars.

Joseph Garcia told The Athletic he paid $207 for his seat via Ticketmaster, including booking fees, and said: “For a working-class person and today’s economy, $207 means a lot and that product we saw was absolutely not even close to being worth that.”

Garcia has written a complaint to the club detailing how fans were “vocally disappointed” in the ground. United apologised in their reply but said the game was impossible to brand as specifically an under-21s fixture due to possible changes to the line-up. Tickets, with prices set by the promoter, were also available for $70 and United also gave 50 away for free to the local supporters’ club.

The tour’s final game against Dortmund, in Las Vegas on Sunday night, was visibly short of the stadium’s 65,000 capacity, with the official attendance given at 50,857, but across eight days, a total of 235,168 supporters watched United’s four matches.

For Roche, the United executive, being in the U.S. allowed her another look at stadiums which are much more modern than Old Trafford. The MetLife, the Snapdragon in San Diego, the NRG in Houston, and the Allegiant in Las Vegas are all examples of excellent construction and offered ideas for the rebuild of United’s home ground.

Plans for that have long been drawn up, of course, ranging from renovation of the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand, to building a totally new Old Trafford, which could cost £2billion. Co-owner Joel Glazer has seen them, as have the bidding parties on a takeover or minority investment. But progress is on hold until there is clarity on the club’s “strategic review” launched last November.

Before kick-off in the win over Arsenal, New Jersey’s state governor Phil Murphy said he would be happy to talk to United about MetLife Stadium, which he is lobbying to be chosen to host the World Cup final in 2026.

In San Diego, United stayed at the Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, which was a 10-minute walk from the university pitches they trained on. There was a Mediterranean feel to the setting, with its terracotta buildings, seaside location, and garden squares, one of which was converted into a space for squad members to play basketball and table tennis.

There was time there for players to relax and chat in the bar, some of their conversations touching on the takeover, the club’s need for a new main striker, and who is the best defender at United.

Also discussed was Omar Meziane’s role in making life enjoyable on this tour. Appointed as United’s chef in January, Meziane is popular because of his varied menus which, while the club travelling, are in part influenced by local cuisine.  

Meziane, who has previously been the performance chef for the England cricket team and the Great Britain rowing team, as well as top-flight English rugby union clubs Harlequins and Wasps, travelled out the day before the main party at each stage of the trip to familiarise himself with the kitchen that would be used, meet the chefs already in place at the hotels, and source fresh food.

The game in Houston against Real Madrid was where the only major setback of the tour occurred.   The ankle injury suffered by Kobbie Mainoo will sideline him for the start of the campaign and Ten Hag’s disappointment over it in the press conference afterwards was palpable. The 18-year-old midfielder was playing himself into contention for selection when the real action starts next weekend through his performances in these friendlies.

In that same post-match press conference, Ten Hag said the fact his team did not score in the 2-0 defeat “absolutely” emphasised why a new striker was required. Anthony Martial has been training with the squad but did not play a single second across the four U.S. matches.

In hindsight, it is clear Ten Hag knew the Hojlund deal was close, so felt free to make the point. By the time he did his end-of-tour interview with reporters three days later, the transfer had been agreed.

Ten Hag was serious throughout that 25-minute chat, but finished by suggesting, with a chuckle, that one of his inquisitors reminded him of 1950s pop star Ritchie Valens because of his colourful shirt. “La Bamba,” Ten Hag laughed, adding it was attire suitable for United’s final stop.

There in Las Vegas, United stayed at the Westin — a hotel in that city built on gambling that does not have a casino. Ten Hag, it seemed, did not want to gamble on players staying away from the slot machines. On the pitch, United played a losing hand.

While the loss to Real Madrid was a case of one team being better than the other, the 3-2 defeat by Dortmund owed to sloppy mistakes from United. Ten Hag said the lapses were “unforgivable”.

Heaton and defender Brandon Williams had a row about the blame for Dortmund’s second goal, which came immediately from United’s restart after conceding an equaliser. In the second half, new signing Onana sprinted from the six-yard box to shout at Maguire for a mistake that led to a Dortmund shot on target.

Onana had shown his softer side after his first session as a United player following a move from Inter Milan back in New Jersey, striking up a conversation with new colleagues Amad , Hannibal and Anthony Elanga as they walked from the recovery room to the team bus.

In any case, defender Lisandro Martinez insisted United are “better for” players calling out each other directly like that. “If you are focused, you can fight with your team-mates as well, you need to make sure everyone is really sharp,” he said, while in the bowels of Allegiant Stadium.

When Ten Hag came through the mixed zone that night, he made a point of smiling and waving to reporters. “Safe flight home,” he said.

Three defeats to finish their U.S. tour and some elements of concern, but the United manager is satisfied with the club’s transfer work and, having put some useful training in the bank, knows more meaningful matches are ahead.

The best Manchester United books to read this summer

(Top photo: Tim Warner/Getty Images)

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Laurie Whitwell worked for the Daily Mail from 2010, covering midlands football for the last five years, including Leicester’s remarkable Premier League triumph. Whitwell was nominated for sports scoop of the year at the 2019 SJAs for breaking Wayne Rooney’s move to DC United. He will be reporting on Manchester United for The Athletic. Follow Laurie on Twitter @ lauriewhitwell

United Legends Football Match

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Manchester United vs Liverpool: Probable lineups for 2023-24 Premier League

W orld soccer will be in for a treat on Sunday, April 7, as Manchester United host lifelong rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford in an exciting English derby on Matchday 32 of the 2023-24 Premier League .

These sides put on a show last time they met in the FA Cup , with the Red Devils gaining the upper-hand in a dramatic seven-goal game that went to extra time. But the story looks different in the domestic league.

Erik ten Hag’s men come from a painful loss to Chelsea on Thursday, as the Blues won 4-3 in the dying seconds at Stamford Bridge. That result left United sixth in the standings with 48 points, 22 shy of their upcoming opponents , who lead the standings.

Manchester United’s probable lineup

Ten Hag is expected to field a similar team to the one that lost in London. Despite the result, there were positive signs of United in their last game, but the coach will probably take until Sunday to make changes.

Man Utd predicted lineup: Andre Onana; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire, Diogo Dalot; Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo; Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho; Rasmus Hojlund .

Liverpool’s probable lineup

The Reds are entering a crucial stretch of the season with the league title at stake. Jurgen Klopp will probably repeat the team that beat Sheffield United in the week, with Kelleher still between the sticks as Alisson is injured.

Liverpool probable starting eleven: Caoimhin Kelleher; Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson; Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, Alexis Mac Allister; Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz .

More must-reads:

• Where to Watch Manchester United vs Liverpool Live for FREE in the USA: Premier League 2023-24 Matchday 32
• Pep Guardiola explains who's favorite to win the Premier League
• Xabi Alonso explains why he chose Bayer Leverkusen over Liverpool

SUPERSTAR SPEAKERS SPORTS MANAGEMENT, MEMORABILIA & EVENTS LTD

• Dec 30, 2022

Martin Buchan signs up to the Legends Tour 2023

Super excited to announce that one of Manchester United's greatest ever defenders Martin Buchan has joined the legends tour.

Buchan was signed by Manchester United manager Frank O'Farrell on 29 February 1972 for £120,000, and at the time was the club's record signing. His first game for United came on 4 March 1972 against Tottenham in the First Division . He was unable to prevent United from suffering relegation to the Second Division in 1973–74 . However, United bounced back at the first attempt as Second Division champions. Buchan became club captain in 1975 following the departure of Willie Morgan .

Buchan helped United win the 1977 FA Cup Final against Liverpool , which they won 2–1. This meant that Buchan became the only player to captain both Scottish and English FA Cup-winning sides. He also helped United reach another FA Cup final in 1979 , where they lost 3–2 to Arsenal . He was still with United when they beat Brighton 4–0 in the replayed 1983 FA Cup Final , but he did not make the team for the final. Buchan left the club in August 1983 after injuries caught up with him, signing for Oldham Athletic on a free transfer. He had played in 456 games, scoring 4 goals, one of which was a superb, yet somewhat uncharacteristic, long-range drive against Everton.

Fans and ex professionals hold Martin in high regard such was his desire to win and his never give in attitude. He has very rarely attended any events like this so it really is a great opportunity for Manchester United fans to meet one of the greats of the club.

His first appearance on the legends tour will see him in Mansfield on the 21st January 2023 at the 1977 FA Cup Final special event alongside Lou Macari and Jimmy Nicholl.

He will then be live in Wigan in early February alongside Jimmy Greenoff, Stuart Pearson. Jimmy Nicholl and Arthur Albiston

Tickets are on sale now for both events via the superstar speakers ticket link

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