Manchester United v. AC Milan - Match Preview

By Chris O'Brien
July 31 2004

Manchester United end their rather dissapointing pre-season tour of America with a game against AC Milan in New York. Sir Alex Ferguson is set to name a stronger Red Devils side as United hit the Big Apple.

Sir Alex Ferguson has given into the pressure applied by the American public and will field a much stronger Manchester United side for the third and final match of the United States of America tour. The United boss has taken masses of criticism from 'soccer' fans in the States and from the national press for fielding weakened sides in the opening tour matches against Bayern Munich and Glasgow Celtic, with the F.A Cup winners losing both of these ties.

Ferguson had initially planned to leave most of his big-name players at home, but has bowed to the pressure in America and has had Mikael Silvestre and Paul Scholes flown across from England to play against the Italian outfit. Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs, Alan Smith and the Neville brothers are all also expected to play the majority of the friendly fixture taking place at the Giants Stadium in New York.

However, despite the stronger side being fielded for this game, players including Louis Saha, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Cristiano Ronaldo will not be made available for selection. Star names such as these are being allowed to regain their fitness after participation in the European Championships.

Although the tour has provided United players with some excellent warm-up matches, the main reason behind the trip was an attempt to enhance the appeal of Red Devils and the game of football in general in the country. The criticism United have taken from the American press will have diminished the team's popularity, and Ferguson has admitted for this to be reversed he has been forced to call for big-name players against his will.

I have had to do this reluctantly," admitted the Scotsman. "But we have suffered a lot of criticism because of the team we played against Bayern Munich.

"We made a big impact in America last year on tour and we want to enhance that."

It's hard not to get the feeling that the tour to the States has just got in the way. Last season, everyone at the club seemed to thoroughly enjoy the trip to the States and the results were very promising. However, with the Copa America and European Championships causing many players to play during the summer, it would seem United's decision to return to North America a year after the successful tour was a bad move.

When United return to British shores they have two Vodafone Cup matches to play at Old Trafford, with PSV Eindhoven and Uruwa Red Diamonds taking on the Red Devils. August 8th sees the season get underway with United taking on Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium for the Community Shield, with Premiership proceedings getting going the following Saturday as United visit Stamford Bridge to face title chasing Chelsea.