Manchester City will return to China this year for the first time since their ill-fated visit of 2016, when a game with cross-town rivals United was called off at the last minute.The first overseas Manchester derby was cancelled just hours before kick-off because of an unplayable surface at Beijing´s "Bird´s Nest" stadium following heavy rain.Pep Guardiola´s City will hope there is no repeat when they compete in the 2019 Premier League Asia Trophy, which will be held in Nanjing on July 17 and nearby Shanghai on July 20.The other teams will be Newcastle United, West Ham United and Chinese-owned Wolverhampton Wanderers, the Premier League said on Tuesday.Each side will play two games in the mini tournament, which is likely to be testing for the players with peak temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius (86F) and the possibility of torrential rain.The Asia Trophy was similarly dogged by pitch problems -- again after rain -- when it was held in Hong Kong in 2013.Then-Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio labelled the muddy surface "a killer pitch" and Tottenham Hotspur´s Jan Vertonghen suffered an ankle injury on the waterlogged surface.While uncomfortable conditions for players and disruptive to managers´ pre-season preparations, the Premier League and clubs see such trips as a prime opportunity to grow their fan bases in China, the world´s second-biggest economy.City recently purchased a stake in Chinese third-tier club Sichuan Jiuniu as part of their overseas expansion drive."In Manchester City we have the reigning Premier League champions competing for the trophy," the league´s interim chief executive Richard Masters said when naming the July line-up."I have no doubt the fans can expect some competitive and thrilling Premier League action."A glut of European football clubs look set to visit China in pre-season, with Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur also committed to coming.
from The News International - Sports https://ift.tt/2utInOJ
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Pray for no rain: Man City to return to China after Beijing debacle
Related Posts:
‘Pakistan, mein aa raha hoon!’: Watson to feature in final phase of HBL PSL in KarachiKARACHI: The business end of HBL Pakistan Super League received a much-needed boost when Australian star Shane Watson confirmed that he will be visiting Karachi for the final leg of the season.Watson, who is playing for Quett… Read More
Rooting for Peshawar Zalmi to win PSL 2019: Malala YousufzaiWorld's youngest Nobel laureate Malala Yousufzai has said her favourite team in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is Peshawar Zalmi."I am a big fan of Peshawar Zalmi. I am supporting the team and hoping it wins the fourth editi… Read More
Shehzad, Fawad star in Gladiators’ triumph in HBL PSLABU DHABI: Opener Ahmad Shehzad struck a solid half century and leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed took three crucial wickets to guide Quetta Gladiators to a convincing 43-run win over defending champions Islamabad United in Abu Dhabi o… Read More
Mohammad Irfan's brother passes awayKARACHI: Elder brother of Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Irfan passed away on Wednesday.The giant fast bowler who plays for Multan Sultan franchise in Pakistan Super League (PSL) took to Twitter to share the sad news with… Read More
Australia can win World Cup with Warner and Smith: WarneSYDNEY: David Warner and Steve Smith’s year-long exile has likely left them hungrier than ever and their return can spark Australia to World Cup glory, Test great Shane Warne said Wednesday.The star pair’s ban from state and … Read More
0 comments:
Post a Comment