The 2024-25 Premier League season begins in just a few weeks, and clubs are working around the clock to prepare. The main event of this week’s Soccer Champions Tour is a friendly match between Manchester City and AC Milan in New York City, with a number of clubs competing across the country.
The Citizens will come up against the Rossoneri at the iconic Yankee Stadium on the morning of Sunday 28 July, but first Pep Guardiola’s side will be in action against Scottish champions Celtic at the Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on the morning of Wednesday 24 July.
The Glasgow club have already been in pre-season action, facing Queens Park Rangers and DC United prior to taking on the Premier League champions.
“We step up another level now,” said Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers. “It will be great work for us and fantastic games. Overall, we have a long way to go with the pressing side of our game.”
Celtic will be in action again on the evening of Saturday, 27 July, when they take on Chelsea at the Notre Dame Stadium in Indiana.
The Blues are entering yet another new era, having appointed former Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca to replace Mauricio Pochettino a few weeks back.
“One of the reasons for sure [I joined],” said Maresca, who will be continuing Chelsea’s affiliation with Italian tacticians. “I’m very proud to be an Italian manager here again. Probably there is something between Chelsea as a club, as a family, and Italian people that works well!”
Two more Premier League clubs in action in the Soccer Champions Tour are Arsenal and Bournemouth, who will face off at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles, California, on the morning of Thursday, 25 July.
The Gunners are looking to build toward another bid for the title, while the Cherries will want to continue their improvement under Spanish manager Andrés Iraola.
“We will try to take benefit as much as we can,” said the Bournemouth boss of their time in the United States. “I’m sure the club is doing the right stuff. It is going to be very good for the club.
“I think we must also be known, not just here in England, so I understand very well the commercial side of the trip. Also, from my department, let’s say, the sporting side, we have to use it to prepare very well.
“We have two very good friends there to continue building. I think it’s going to be a good two weeks for us.”
Broadcast details.
Wednesday 24 July
01:30: Manchester City v Celtic – LIVE on SuperSport PSL, SuperSport Maximo 1 and SuperSport Maximo 3
Thursday 25 July
04:30: Arsenal v Bournemouth – LIVE on SuperSport PSL, SuperSport Maximo 1 and SuperSport Maximo 2
Saturday 27 July
22:00: Chelsea v Celtic – LIVE on SuperSport Action and SuperSport Maximo 1
Sunday 28 July
00:00: Man City v AC Milan – LIVE on SuperSport PSL and SuperSport Maximo 1
