Chapter 166: Pre-season warm-up match

The International Champions Cup, an important commercial event, was once named the Guinness Cup, divided into North America and Europe, China, Australia, Singapore and other regions, and the Emirates Cup, Telecom Cup, etc., is one of the mainstream warm-up matches. Its predecessor was the World Football Challenge, which began in 2009.

In the 2017 International Champions Cup, in addition to the original North America, Europe, Australia, and China, the Singapore division was added.

The North American and European teams include Paris Saint-Germain, Roma, Juventus, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid and Barcelona. Host cities include Santa Clara, New Jersey, New York, Los Angeles, Nashville, Norfolk, Miami, Orlando, and more.

Manchester United and Manchester City will play their first derby outside of the UK, while Real Madrid and Barcelona will also play a 'national derby' at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium.

Manchester United and Manchester City will wear bee-emblazoned shirts for the match, and after the game, the jerseys of both players will be auctioned publicly, and all funds raised will be donated to the "I Love Manchester" Emergency Relief Foundation.

This summer, Pep Guardiola began his frenzied purge journey, which has only just begun after sending off 13 players, including Joe Hart, Nolito and Klich.

According to a number of British media outlets, Mangala, Nasri, Boni, Delphi, Fernando and Iheanacho were all told by Guardiola that they were not part of his plans.

In the summer transfer window, Manchester City has spent 150 million euros to sign four players, including Silva B (50 million euros), Walker (51 million euros), Ederson (40 million euros) and Douglas Luiz (12 million euros).

In addition, Guardiola confirmed that he will also bring in three or four players, including Danilo and Mendy.

Manchester United arrived in the United States as early as July 10 and played two warm-up games against major league teams; Manchester City only arrived in Houston, the United States on July 18, Beijing time, and did not schedule warm-up games before.

In addition, a number of key players, including Otamendi, have only returned to training in recent days, and it is doubtful that they will be able to meet the requirements of the game in terms of fitness and fitness.

Speaking at his press conference ahead of the match against Manchester City, Mourinho said of the game: "It's a very competitive practice game and you will win the practice game. We've played a few games against teams in the big leagues, so it's time to raise the level and intensity of the game and we're going to have three of the best teams in Europe. I don't know the way they look at the game, I know what I want. I'm going to give my players time to improve and get my new signings to get to know my team-mates better and that's part of our preparation. ”

Speaking to UNITEDTV, Manchester United defender Matteo Darmian said: "We want to win every game, especially if it's a derby, it's not a friendly, everybody knows it so we want to win. ”

Speaking at his press conference, Kompany said: "We have Manchester United next, even though it's a friendly. But for me I can never see this as a friendly match. As a derby, I believe the game will be full of confrontation. ”

This time, Manchester United lined up a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Dai Zhiwei continuing to ride forward alone, with Marcus Rashford, Mkhitaryan and Jesse Lingard in ambush, and Paul Pogba and Herrera in the back. At the back, Victor Lindelof and Smalling partnered in central defence, Blind and Valencia on the left and right, and David De Gea in goal.

Manchester City lined up 4-3-3 with Sergio Aguero leading the line-up, assisted by Raheem Sterling and Verden, and a midfield trio of Kevin De Bruyne, Yaya Toure and Roberts. At the back, Adarabioyo and Kompany partnered in central defence, Fernandinho and Walker left and right, and goalkeeper was new signing Ederson.

Although both sides said before the game that they attached great importance to this derby warm-up game, the intensity of both sides was not too great after the game, and Dai Zhiwei played very easily.

In the 37th minute of the game, Pogba's long pass from the back created a killing chance, Dai Zhiwei quickly stepped forward, he shook the attacking goalkeeper Ederson and then pushed the empty goal from a small angle, Manchester United led Manchester City 1-0.

After scoring two hat-tricks over two legs in the Champions League last season, Dai stabbed City again.

Two minutes later, Marcus Rashford broke the ball in midfield, Mkhitaryan broke through the middle and split the ball, Rashford cut in from the right and fired a low shot into the bottom left corner to extend the lead 2-0.

In the second half, the two sides fought again, and this time Dai Zhiwei finally played the second half of the game for the first time after joining Manchester United, and he played as soon as he started.

In the 47th minute, he suddenly dropped the goal on the right flank, and the ball was barely saved by Ederson.

Subsequently, Rashford crossed from a corner on the left, and Dai Zhiwei's header was slightly deflected.

Two minutes later, there was a mistake in the City defence, and Dai Zhiwei's volley was powerful and sunk, but unfortunately it hit the post and bounced.

Manchester City did not come up with a tough equaliser in the subsequent game, and Mourinho also replaced Dai Zhiwei to announce the withdrawal of Mingjin.

In the end, Manchester United comfortably beat Manchester City 2-0.

After beating Manchester City in the opening game of the International Champions Cup, Manchester United will take on Champions League winners Real Madrid in Santa Clara on Sunday.

Dai Zhiwei, who started against the Blues, may not start against Real Madrid as Mourinho plans to rotate his players to get all his players back to form as quickly as possible.

Pogba pointed out that the United players who came on against Real Madrid will do their best to put in a good performance. In an exclusive interview with UTD, he began by reflecting on the Manchester City game: "I'm happy with our work, we've worked really hard. Jose wants us to stick to his tactical system, we played well on the pitch and hopefully we can continue. We had good passing and good running, but it was just subconscious. It's nice to be able to play in the derby and it's important to be able to win. ”

Dai Zhiwei said he is very much looking forward to the game against Real Madrid, "As Jose said, it will be a good test for us, an important training session, we have to see if we make progress and understand his tactics." They're going to be a tough opponent to play against, but we're working hard to get back into form as quickly as we get closer to the season. ”

He also noted, "Of course we want to play against the top teams and that's what you want. A top club like Manchester United always wants to play against the best teams and win games. We've been training really hard and we're going to try to keep that momentum going, that's our goal. ”

Asked if United's tactics are more attacking than they are, Dai admitted: "We were able to do that and Jose was helping us. We were really hungry and we were trying our best to recover. We're sitting on the right things and hopefully we'll improve and carry that momentum over the course of the season. ”

The match against Manchester United will be the first game of the new season for Real Madrid, and before the game, Jose Mourinho shook hands and hugged his old club in the tunnel one by one.

Ronaldo and Real Madrid's new signing Ceballos and others were absent, Zidane arranged Bale to partner Benzema to charge, Iscoroos Magic Flute led the midfield, Manchester United Dai Zhiwei did not start for the first time because of rotation, Rashford partnered with Anthony Martial, Carrick and Fellaini sat in the midfield.

Because Real Madrid won the Champions League last season, and Manchester United won the Europa League last season, this game can be regarded as an early UEFA Super Cup.

Luka Modric made his debut as the number 10 was introduced, with both teams focusing on the midfield and few shots on goal, with Isko Benzemable passing in quick succession, still disrupted by the defending Manchester United.

It wasn't until the 45th minute that Anthony Martial dribbled on the left flank, broke through three defenders in a row and burst into the penalty area to knock down the middle, and Jesse Lingard easily pushed it into the empty net in front of the goal, breaking the deadlock on the field.

At half-time, United led by one goal.

Zizou and Mourinho made a massive substitution after the break, with both new signings on the line-up, with Theo Hernandez making his debut and Dai Zhiwei and Victor Lindelof.

At present, Manchester United has the best tacit understanding with Dai Zhiwei is the Spanish gang, but unfortunately Herrera, who has just come on as a substitute, was injured by Real Madrid teenager Oscar and could not insist on being replaced, Mourinho was very dissatisfied and protested to the referee.

In the 68th minute, Theo Hernandez took the left side of the penalty area to take the ball out, Lindelof swept the old Atletico Madrid player down, the referee gave a penalty, and Casemiro took the penalty and volleyed it into the top corner of the goal, 1:1.

The Brazil international scored Real Madrid's first goal of the new season, following Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Marcelo in the previous four years.

Although he didn't practice much during a holiday, in fact, Dai Zhiwei was trained by Dakong Wing in the "football player system" in his mind every night, and no one was in better shape than him in the warm-up games of the new season.

In the 83rd minute, Red Devils youngster Scott McTominay crossed from the right, Real Madrid's defense leaked, and Dai Zhiwei, who was in excellent condition, volleyed through Navas's ten fingers before the penalty spot!

Although the Real Madrid players launched a surging counter-attack in the subsequent game, Mourinho's fine-tuned backline was not so easy to penetrate, and in the end, Manchester United won a difficult victory over Real Madrid with Dai Zhiwei's stunner, and their next opponent will be the equally strong Barcelona.

"This is a big team!" Dai Zhiwei looked at their warm-up schedule and exclaimed.

Manchester United's warm-up matches have almost no weak opponents, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona ......

Such a formidable opponent could have fully mobilized United's form before the start of the season, compared to the opponents who warmed up in Villarreal's pre-season last season were all underdogs.

Barcelona beat Juventus in the first game of the season, and Suarez entered the starting line-up this time, partnering Messi Neymar, the MSN pair reunited, and Sergio Busquets played with new signing Semedo.

In the Manchester United team, Dai Zhiwei partnered Rashford to charge, Lindelof sat in the defence, and Pogba and Mkhitaryan partnered in midfield.

Looking at the silent Neymar in the players' tunnel, Dai Zhiwei was also full of sighs, he knew that according to historical inertia, this should be the last time he saw Neymar wearing a Barcelona shirt.

In the same period of the previous life, Neymar will transfer to Paris Saint-Germain for 222 million euros a week later, and Dai Zhiwei has just set a record for the first transfer fee in history with 110 million euros.

However, he really doesn't attach much importance to his record, because he remembers that in the future, whether it is Mbappe's transfer to Paris Saint-Germain's 180 million euros, or Coutinho's transfer to Barcelona for 120 million euros + 40 million euros, the floating clause exceeds his own 110 million euros, and even the transfer fee of the 33-year-old Ronaldo to Juventus will reach 117 million euros.

Although he was troubled by transfers, Neymar showed a good competitive state - in the 31st minute, Messi went straight in front of the penalty area, Valencia made a mistake in stopping the ball after breaking the ball in the penalty area, and Neymar turned and swept the goal after stealing from behind, 1:0.

Barcelona's first three goals of the new season were all scored by Neymar, and I don't know if he is tempting Paris Saint-Germain with his excellent performance.

Barcelona had 12 first-half shots, all of which were managed by the MSN combination, with Messi having six and Neymar and Suarez three each.

After the break, Barcelona changed all 11 players, Jose Mourinho made six substitutions, and Dai Zhiwei remained on the pitch.

And he quickly repaid Mourinho's trust with his performance - at the beginning of the second half, Rashford crossed in the box, and it was Dai Zhiwei who advanced to the line of the box, and then fired a right-footed shot into the far corner to equalize for his team, maintaining his record of scoring in every game since the start of the new season.

In the 90th minute, there was a controversial decision on the pitch, Anthony Martial's cross from inside the box hit Denis Suarez's arm, and the referee awarded a penalty, but slow motion showed that Denis Suarez's arm was not open.

At this time, Dai Zhiwei, the first penalty taker of Mourinho's personal point, has already been replaced by Martial, and Martial, who made the penalty, took the penalty in one fell swoop, and the final game!

After back-to-back wins over Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona, Manchester United ended their warm-up fixtures in the United States and returned to Europe for their final two warm-up games of the pre-season.

They beat Valerenga 3-0 at the Ulvar Stadium in Norway, where Dai Zhiwei scored his team's second goal in the 47th minute when Andreas Pereira headed a corner from the edge of the six-yard box into the near corner.

Manchester United then beat Sampdoria 2-1 at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland to make it seven wins in a row in pre-season, with Tai Chi Wai and Juan Mata each contributing to it.

Manchester United, the winners of the Europa League, will face Champions League winners Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup at the Philippe II National Arena in Skopje, Macedonia.