Preseason USA Tour Preview

The Manchester City players have already arrived in North Carolina, USA. Having left on Friday 19th July. Ahead of them is four matches against four different European teams.

24th July 00:30 (GMT) vs Celtic Kenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill

27th July 23:00 (GMT) vs AC Milan Yankee Stadium, New York

31st July 00:00 (GMT) vs Barcelona Camping World Stadium, Orlando

3rd August 22:30 (GMT) vs Chelsea Ohio Stadium, Columbus

In addition to those dates Pep Guardiola is expected to face the media on the 22nd July, 26th July, 29th July and August 2nd. Open training sessions will also take place on these days.

The club have confirmed the travelling squad as included below. Plenty of academy players will be attending along with first team players. Opportunities for making the first team, moving up the pecking order and for some to secure moves (sale/loan) elsewhere.

Despite the number of first team players missing there is plenty to look forward to. Interesting players to watch. There won’t be any senior central defenders travelling so the likes of Simpson-Pusey and Katongo will have plenty of minutes. Callum Doyle and Issa Kabore have returned from loan spells. The right back spot is free for Rico Lewis to make his own during these games unless he’s moved into midfield with a look towards next season.

The front free of Grealish, Haaland and Bobb is the front three City fans will be excited to see for different reasons. Bobb will be looking towards an increased squad role this season. Grealish wants to bounce back from last season. Haaland will remind us all what the best center forward in the world can do, something Euro 2024 was missing.

Keep any eye on the trio of Perrone, Wright and Susoho who are all capable playing as a defensive midfielder. Cover for Rodri is a hole in the team and an opportunity for a player to take.

You can find a review of Maximo Perrone 23/24 loan spell with Las Palmas below.

Ndala is one of the most exciting young English wingers coming through. Hamilton show cased his skills in the Champions League last season. James McAtee had a tough loan spell at Sheffield United but needs to impress to make the team or get a move elsewhere.

Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol are expected to join up with the Manchester City squad in New York. The second leg of the USA tour. Having played in EURO 2024 they were given an extended break. Other players that featured in the competition are expected to join the squad at a later date not yet confirmed.

Julian Alvarez will be playing for Argentina in the Olympics this summer and not available until much later.

Amar Fatah (20) will be part of the tour, registered to Troyes and was on loan at Lommel last season. Remaining with the team as he recovers from his injury.

Savinho is not expected to join the preseason tour and instead meet up with the team when they return to Manchester. He’ll be in line to make his debut for City against United in the Community Shield or Chelsea in the Premier League opener.

If you want to learn more about Savinho then check out our previous newsletter on him linked below.

After each match of the pre-season we will be publishing a review which will be centered on the takeaways rather than getting into stats and tactics too heavily like we would for a Premier League match. To look at the progress of first team players, new first team players and academy prospects.

After the preseason tour Manchester City return to the UK with a Community Shield match against Manchester United awaiting them. That will take place at Wembley, 15:00 (GMT) on the 10th August.

Then the Premier League will kick off for City with their opening match against Chelsea (A), 16:30 (GMT) on the 18th August.

Any outgoing or incoming player transfer will be covered in detail with their own newsletter post when it happens. Full preview for the Community Shield and Premier League opener will follow a couple days before the matches take place.

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