Houston Hose-down: a preseason preview
By Laura Graves
Manchester City have finally kicked off their pre-season tour in the US. They boarded the jet on Saturday looking refreshed ahead of the new season.
The pre-season tour will feature friendlies against Club America and Bayern Munich. If there is anything we have learnt about Pep and how he leads his band of blues, we know that friendly or not, they will aim to demolish the opposition.
Blues across the lands will be buzzing to see new City signings Erling Haaland, Kalvin Phillips, Julian Alvarez, and Stefan Ortega Moreno, in debut action on foreign soil.
The first on field battle of the pre-season tour will be against Club America at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas on Wednesday 20th July and kicking off at 19:30 (locally), 01:30 (BST).
A few days later, Manchester City face Bayern Munich at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin with a kick off time of 18:00 (locally), 00:00 (BTS).
Since touching down in the States, Manchester City stars have been to PR events as well as training hard in the extreme southern heat.
How much do you know about Club America? They are not American, but Latin American. One of Mexico’s most successful teams with plenty of domestic titles and cups.
Winning both their domestic title and cup 13 times, and the Copa Mexico 6 times, with their most recent in 2019. They have also achieved international success, winning 10 international titles, which is a continental record.
Just days ago, Club America faced Chelsea in a pre-season friendly, with Chelsea securing a late win through Mason Mount.
Timo Werner had opened the scoring to put Chelsea ahead, until a Reece James own goal put Club America level. A game in which new signing of ex-City star, Raheem Sterling did not feature.
Club America are currently mid-season, their recent form has been unpredictable with 3 losses, 2 wins and a draw.
When they face the blues, they won’t be facing Foden, Stones, Gundogan and Laporte, with them not joining City’s US pre-season tour.
City fans hope however, that they will be facing new signings Haaland, Alvarez, Phillips, and Ortega. With the latest recruits set to make their debut.
Some of the usual stars, such as De Bruyne, Grealish and Walker are expected within the starting line-up. Though, the youngsters will be hoping they get to join in on the action and use the opportunity to impress the boss ahead of the new season.
The preseason tour 26-man squad includes: Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, Joao Cancelo, Rodri, Kalvin Phillips, Kevin De Bruyne, Scott Carson, Ederson, Ortega, Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez, Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez, Cole Palmer, James McAtee, Liam Delap, Kayky, Luke Mbete, Josh Wilson-Esbrand, Oscar Bobb, Rico Lewis, Finley Burns and Ben Knight.
With Zinchenko who is no longer a City player after exiting the camp and heading to Arsenal to sign his new contract to reunite with Jesus and Arteta.
My predicted starting 11: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Ake, Cancelo, Phillips, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Grealish, Haaland, Mahrez.
Who knows, perhaps Pep will go for a more youthful looking team. Perhaps he will go straight with Rodri. What would your starting 11 be?