USA: MANCHESTER UNITED TRAIN AHEAD OF EAGERLY AWAITED MATCH AGAINSTJUVENTUS IN NEW YORK

Record ID: 338371

  • Title: USA: MANCHESTER UNITED TRAIN AHEAD OF EAGERLY AWAITED MATCH AGAINSTJUVENTUS IN NEW YORK
  • Date: 30th July 2003
  • Summary: PISCATAWY, NEW JERSEY(JULY 30, 2003)(REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) 1. RUTGERS AMERICAN FOOTBALL STADIUM 2. ENGLISH SOCCER FANS CHEERING ON MAN UNITED 3. MANCHESTER UNITED JOGGING ON PITCH 4. PRESS 5. BALL DRILLS 6. FERGUSON WATCHING TEAM PRACTICE 7. TEAM PRACTICE 8. SOUNDBITE(English) CHARLIE STILLITANO - CHAMPIONSWORLD SERIES SAYING " We have already sold over 78,000 tickets and we are scrambling to find some extra tickets for people that really need them, but I genuinely think we could sell 120,000 tickets for this game on Thursday." 9. FERGUSON IN MEDIA SCRUM 10. SOUNBITE (English) SIR ALEX FERGUSON -TRAINOR/MAN UNITED SAYING "I think their is a bit of trepidation whether America would take to it." You here all the stories that they have their own game and things like that must say they have been fantastic and everywhere we have gone there has been a good reception. The atmosphere in the stadium has been great and we could not ask for anything better." 11. MORE PRACTICE DRILLS 12. SOUNDBITE(English) CHARLIE STILLITANO - CHAMPIONSWORLD SERIES SAYING "What we have seen since David Beckham's departure is they haven't missed a beat." People are still enthusiastic. Not one person has asked for their ticket back. So it has really been well perceived." 13. MORE PRACTICE 14. SOUNBITE (English) SIR ALEX FERGUSON-TRAINOR MAN UNITED SAYING "We will always have the expectation anyway, from the media side and the fans side. I think I got talented players and most important, I have hungry players. We want to win. And I think you have talented players who want to win, you have a chance." 15. PLAYERS SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS AFTER PRACTICE Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 14th August 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PISCATAWAY,NEWJERSEY,UNITEDSTATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA7QBK8OCWC9KTEIOZVNAY3B5M6
  • Story Text: Manchester United train ahead of eagerly awaited
    match against Juventus in New York



    Over 78,000 fans are expected to watch the the
    ChampionsWorld Series match between Manchester United and
    Juventus at Giants Stadium on Thursday night. Manchester
    United practiced at the Rutgers University (American)
    football stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey on Wednesday
    (July 30).

    When Manchester United arrives at Giants Stadium
    Thursday night for a friendly match against Italian
    champion Juventus, it will be the third game of a
    four-match swing through the United States. Nobody
    associated with United denies this preseason exhibition
    tour is all about extending the marketing reach of a club
    that already has Asia in the palm of its hand but would
    love to sell more team jerseys to America's developing
    soccer audience.

    Over 2,000 English soccer fans attended the teams
    practice at the Rutgers University football Stadiium in
    Piscatawy, New Jersey on Wednesday.

    Charlie Stillitano, chairman and founder of tour
    organisers, ChampionsWorld expects to break an attendance
    record at Giants Stadium when the two teams play. " We have
    already sold over 78,000 tickets and we are scrambling to
    find some extra tickets for people that really need them,
    but I genuinely think we could sell 120,000 tickets for
    this game on Thursday."
    Man United trainer Alex Ferguson has been suprised
    about the great reception in the United States."I think
    their is a bit of trepidation whether America would take to
    it." You here all the stories that they have their own game
    and things like that must say they have been fantastic and
    everywhere we have gone there has been a good reception.

    The atmosphere in the stadium has been great and we could
    not ask for anything better."
    Despite the teams loss of super star David Beckham, the
    teams popularity has not dropped on their USA tour. What we
    have seen since David Beckham's departure is they haven't
    missed a beat.People are still enthusiastic. Not one person
    has asked for their ticket back. So it has really been well
    perceived.," said Stillitano.

    As the teams practised on the beautiful green turf in
    New Jersey, the team will be missing one of its defenders.

    Gary Neville will not be facing the Trotters because of
    a pulled hamstring which will keep him him out for three
    weeks.

    Manchester United having won 14 English championships
    and ten Football Association Cups is always expected to
    win. How will this year's team measure up? "We will always
    have the expectation anyway, from the media side and the
    fans side. I think I got talented players and most
    import
    ant, I have hungry players. We want to win. And I
    think you have talented players who want to win, you have a
    chance, said Ferguson.

    United has won it's first two games on the
    ChampionsWorld Series.





  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register