Manchester United set to amaze Hong Kong fans

RTHK

4 days ago

Manchester United set to amaze Hong Kong fans
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim (right) says he will try to bring out star players to impress local fans. Photo: RTHK
The head coach of Hong Kong, China, Ashley Westwood (right) says everyone on the team will get minutes. Photo: RTHK
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim on Thursday said he hopes his side can put on an exciting performance for local fans during their upcoming friendly against Team Hong Kong, China.
The friendly will be held at Hong Kong Stadium at 8pm on Friday.
The Red Devils are on the second leg of their postseason Asian tour, after suffering a disappointing 1-0 loss against the Asean All-Stars in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
Key players like goalkeeper Andre Onana, defender Harry Maguire, and right back Diogo Dalot also missed out on the Hong Kong stop, as they are committed to another event in India.
At a press briefing, the United manager said he will try to bring out all star players if possible to impress the fans.
'If the players are available, I'm going to put the players to play. I will try to divide because I don't want all the young kids all together. I will try to mix these things. We want to be competitive,' he said.
'I don't know which part they are going to play, if they are playing together. For example, [Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho] in the last game played second half together. So I'm trying to balance the team, but if they are fit, they will play. And we will have the maximum respect for everybody here.'
Amorim also joked about the weather in Hong Kong, which has seen heavy downpours on Thursday, saying the players are happy that the weather is just like it is in Manchester.
Meanwhile, the head coach of Hong Kong, China, Ashley Westwood, said he hopes the SAR team can leave football fans around the globe with the impression that football in the SAR is organised and professional.
But the SAR coach also said he would remind players not to get carried away and risk injury.
'We're not there to go and scalp anyone or go after people. We're just there to enjoy the game of football, play a nice relaxed game and treat it as what it is. And that's an exhibition game,' he said.
'It's like I say, it's kind of a training session for us in our window. We're not going hammering tongs and breaking boundaries and smashing into tackles and being stupid.'
'We're just going there for the lads to enjoy themselves and enhance the occasion and hopefully, be part of a good occasion for the fans and that's what it is.'
The SAR coach also said that every player on the team would get some minutes on the pitch.
Team Hong Kong, China will be playing their first ever home game at the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium for their next Asia Cup qualifier match against India on June 10, with tickets for the match almost all snapped up.
Westwood said the team is looking forward to playing in front of a large crowd, which he said would give them an advantage.
'I've played football in front of big crowds, the players have played football in front of big crowds and that only brings the best out of you,' he said.
The SAR team will have one more friendly game following their clash against Manchester United before facing India.