Soccer fever has gripped America and as the country celebrates the fourth of July, Manchester’s two biggest football clubs are preparing themselves for their day of reckoning.
Manchester United and City will jet off to the states over the coming weeks for pre-season tours in preparation for the new Premier League season.
United, who will be making the trip across the pond in two weeks, will come up against Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy as well as AS Roma, Inter Milan and Real Madrid in the states-wide tour.
The last time the Reds played on American soil was in 2011, beating the likes of New England Revolution, Seattle Sounders and an MLS All-Stars team.
This year’s tour will be the first opportunity for Louis van Gaal to assess the team in his new managerial role and midfielder Darren Fletcher has already suggested the trip will allow them to gel.
For the Blues, they take on Sporting Kansas City before facing AC Milan, Liverpool and Olympiakos on their travels.
And to celebrate the impending trip and independence day celebrations, they have listed their ‘biggest US blockbusters’.
Mario Balotelli’s audacious backheel when clean through on goal against LA Galaxy is arguably the biggest hit to have made a splash across the pond.
However it was something which did not impress Roberto Mancini as he was immediately subbed off.
The Citizens last visited the US in 2013 when they played in two entertaining post season games against Chelsea, winning the games 4-3 and 5-3 respectively.
But it’s not just in recent years that Manchester clubs have travelled stateside.
In 1968, Joe Mercer had an unsuccessful time parading his First Division champion’s after City beat United to the league title by two points.
The team went on to suffer four draws and three defeats from eight games in their travels.
Even earlier than that in 1958, City played out an 11-goal classic against Hearts winning the game 6-5.
Main image courtesy of Paul Currie/Action Images, with thanks.
