The Blues will kick off their summer tour of America in Portland, Oregon with a match against the Portland Timbers and a nine-day training camp at the world headquarters of Official Club partner-Umbro's parent company, NIKE, Inc.
he team and coaching staff will begin training on July 13 at the NIKE, Inc. campus in Beaverton, just outside of Portland, prior to leaving for their tour of the East Coast.
Manchester City Manager Roberto Mancini said:
"It is vital that we begin our pre season preparations in the right way and so we're very excited about kicking off our tour at Nike’s Campus.
"Not only is Nike’s excellence in sport,
research and product development
world renowned, but in their Portland
campus they have some of the finest
training facilities in America. It is a real
privilege to have been invited there
and our whole club will benefit from
the experience."
"We are looking forward to playing the Timbers as the first of our pre season matches and we are delighted to be calling Portland our home for the week. "
"Bringing the team here is yet another demonstration of how Umbro’s partnership with Manchester City is thriving,” said Eunan McLaughlin, Nike Affiliates President. "It will be a pleasure to open up our facilities to City’s squad and back room team.”
Countless athletes have visited Nike’s design teams and the Nike Sports Research Lab where staff members test the biomechanics and physiology of athlete interaction with product. The campus features three full-size football pitches, two health clubs and an 11-lane swimming pool.
The first game of the US tour against the Portland Timbers will be an exhibition match at Merlo Field on the University of Portland campus. Timbers currently play in the USSF Division-2 Pro League, but they will become the latest team to join the MLS when the 2011 campaign begins.
City recently announced its involvement in the inaugural New York Football Challenge, where the team will take part alongside MLS side New York Red Bulls, Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon. The training sessions at NIKE, Inc. and the match against the Portland Timbers will provide the players some sharpness after the summer break.
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