Glory, glory! Red Devils touch down in City of Angels
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Today sees the start of Thailand's nearly month-long football fiesta, with the arrival of English Premier League champions Manchester United led by new manager David Moyes.
Former Everton manager Moyes, who took the Old Trafford hot seat following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement at the end of last season, will arrive with his new charges on a chartered flight at Don Mueang Airport at 8.30am local time.
Just a little over 24 hours later, Europa League winners Chelsea led by their new boss, Jose Mourinho, who has returned for a second stint in charge of the Londoners after a spell with Inter Milan and Spanish giants Real Madrid, will touch down at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
The English clubs are due to take part in two glamour fixtures to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Boon Rawd Brewery, with whom they have lucrative sponsorship deals as global partners. The Manchester club will kick off the action on Saturday in an exhibition match against a Singha All Stars side at Rajamangala National Stadium, while the Londoners will face the same opponents at the same venue four days later.
Chelsea will begin their week-long stay in the capital tomorrow by visiting Siriraj Hospital to sign a book of well-wishes for Their Majesties the King and Queen, before holding a press conference at the Shangri-La, their team hotel, in the afternoon.
After their free day on Saturday, Chelsea players will take part in a meet & greet event on Sunday. On Monday they will lead a Singha Coaching Clinic at Super Kick, the indoor pitch on Soi Lat Phrao 80. The Blues will host a pre-match conference at their hotel on the eve of the game and then hold an open training session for ticket holders in the evening on the same day at Rajamangala Stadium.
Singha Corporation executive directors Phurit and Piti Bhirombhakdi will preside over Chelsea’s game next Wednesday, which kicks off at 8pm. The Blues will leave the country the following day.
The football feast, however, will not be over for local fans. Another English Premier League club, Liverpool, are set to play in the capital on July 28, and Spanish heavyweights Barcelona will play a Bangkok game on August 7.
