Jose Mourinho's appointment at Manchester United could see extra pre-season games in China
Manchester United are exploring the possibility of playing extra games as part of their pre-season preparations following the appointment of Jose Mourinho as manager.
United do not intend to lengthen the time they are in China for their summer tour but there is a chance the club could seek to play an extra match in Asia or have another game somewhere else after their involvement in the International Champions Cup in Shanghai or Beijing.
Mourinho’s first official match in charge of United will be against Borussia Dortmund in Shanghai on July 22. The club are then due to face Manchester City at Beijing’s Bird’s Nest stadium three days later when Mourinho will renew hostilities with Pep Guardiola, his adversary from when they locked horns as coaches of Real Madrid and Barcelona.
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But United could play another fixture after the City game provided the logistics suit. United and Wayne Rooney’s representatives are also in talks to finalise a date for the England captain’s testimonial against Everton. Aug 3 had been provisionally pencilled in as a date for the game but it has still to be formally confirmed. A final decision is expected on that within the week.
As FA Cup winners, United will also face Premier League champions Leicester City in the Community Shield at Wembley on Aug 7, the season’s curtain raiser.
Louis van Gaal had succeeded in drastically scaling back United’s planned tour in China after complaining in previous seasons about the length and demands of trips to the United States.
United agreed to Van Gaal’s demands and a full-scale tour was always unlikely given the involvement of so many of their players in this summer’s European Championship finals and Copa America but the club would have liked to fit in at least one more match in their pre-season preparations and that may now happen given the managerial change.
Van Gaal was sacked at his home on Sunday night, with the news made public 24 hours, and Mourinho’s appointment on a three year contract with the option of a further 12 months was announced on Friday.