Manchester United arrive in Thailand for pre-season tour, cheered by ecstatic Thai fans
India Today
Hundreds of Thai fans of Manchester United Football Club cheered the squad on Saturday as they arrived at a Bangkok airport for a friendly match with fierce rivals Liverpool next week.
Manchester United’s players and coaching staff have touched down in Bangkok for the start of their pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia.
United! United!" the fans shouted when the English Premier League side arrived.
Fans were disappointed over Cristiano Ronaldo's absence but found excitement over the new coach, Erik ten Hag, who was joined by midfielder Bruno Fernandes, goalkeeper David De Gea and forward Marcus Rashford leading the arrivals.
"I'm a bit disappointed that Ronaldo did not join the trip. I still admire him though, because he's my idol," Adthapong O. Charoenkul, 32, was quoted as saying by the news agency Reuters.
Manchester United and Liverpool face off on Tuesday, the Southeast Asian nation's first overseas match since the pandemic began. Liverpool are expected to arrive at noon (0500 GMT) on Sunday.
The pre-season friendly is part of the teams' tours before the top English soccer league's season begins next month. United will then go on to Melbourne and Liverpool to Singapore.
"Erik ten Hag is an inspiration to the team. There are lots of rules that players have to adapt to the new coach and new strategies," said Adthapong, who has supported the team since 1999. The coach "will manage to bring the team to second place in the upcoming season."
