Van Gaal’s United debut leads US’ EPL invasion
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FIFTY years after the Beatles launched a British musical “invasion” of America, English football clubs are playing pre-season matches in the United States hoping to spark growth for the sport.
English Premier League sides Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City will combine to play 16 matches on US soil in a follow on to strong American interest in the World Cup.
“Football is growing here, particularly after the World Cup, and every time you come over you see it’s getting bigger,” United striker Wayne Rooney told the team’s website. “It’s incredible to see the number of fans who turn up to cheer us on. The crowds will be really good.”
More than 55,000 watched as host Seattle drew 3-3 with Spurs in Saturday’s friendly, but the biggest and best events are yet to come.
New manager Louis Van Gaal kicks off his reign at United this week when the Red Devils visit the Los Angeles Galaxy, already in the middle of their Major League Soccer season, today to kick off their US tour.
The 62-year-old Dutchman, who replaced the sacked David Moyes, guides United in the States after directing the Netherlands to a third-place finish at the World Cup earlier this month, leaving barely a break in between assignments. “That’s no problem for me. I don’t need a holiday,” van Gaal said. “It’s great to have such an exciting challenge. To work daily with young people is something that I don’t need time off to rest for. I’m looking forward to it.”
United, Liverpool and City will play in the International Champions Cup, a set of pre-season matches between top European clubs preparing for the start of their domestic campaigns.
United will play AS Roma on Saturday in Denver, meet Inter Milan on July 29 in Washington and face Real Madrid on August 2 in suburban Detroit before a sold-out Michigan Stadium crowd of about 110,000, the largest US crowd ever for the sport.
“The USA had a good World Cup. People are into their football out here and it’s vitally important we come here,” Liverpool all-time goals leader Ian Rush told the club’s website.
“To see so many English Premier League teams here is a story in itself. It tells you that football in the USA is getting bigger and bigger.”
Liverpool, run by the owners of Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, expects to play before 150,000 people over its four matches.
United, owned by the Glazer family that owns the National Football League’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, could play in the Cup final at Miami on August 4, just 12 days before opening the EPL season at Old Trafford against Swansea City.
It’s the first US visit for United since 2011 and the travel group includes Rooney, Japanese midfielder Shinji Kagawa, Spanish midfielder Juan Mata and Mexico’s Javier Hernandez.
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