Melbourne City FC to take on Kerala Blasters FC in the opening match of the LaLiga World
~ India's first international pre-season football tournament
kicks off with A-League team taking on home side on Tuesday ~
The
highly-anticipated LaLiga World kicks-off on Tuesday as A-
League's Melbourne City FC take on home-side Kerala Blasters FC at
the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium here on July 24. The
three-team pre-season tournament also features LaLiga side Girona FC
who will play their first game on July 27 against Melbourne City FC.
After training in the
football loving city of Kochi for past four days, Melbourne City FC head
coach Warren Joyce sounded upbeat. “We will be facing a side that will be
playing in front of their home crowd, I am expecting them to come hard at
us. The team has had a good couple of days of training and I would like to
applaud the facilities here in Kochi which are truly up to the international
standards," said Joyce.
With 43
points, Melbourne City FC finished third in the last A-League season with
a run to the semi-finals of the Finals Series. "We are coming here on the
back of a fantastic last season and all the players want to have a good start
to the current season without any injuries. All players from our present squad
are expected to take the ground and have some playing minutes under their belt.
The tournament will be a good learning curve for all the young players who have
joined the squad this season,” added Joyce.
After finishing sixth in
2017-18 season of Indian Super League, home side Kerala Blasters FC would
use this opportunity to regroup their team ahead of their fifth season.
“We have a squad that is hungry and determined to perform at their best against
two very high-quality oppositions. The LaLiga World gives us an exposure to
analyze ourselves against international opponents who have been seasoned
performers in their respective leagues, said David James, Head Coach Kerala
Blasters FC. The Englishman added that these matches will be a perfect platform
for new additions to the squad. "This tournament will be a perfect
platform for the boys to regroup and have some playing time before the ISL
season starts. Our squad is looking forward to a good match tomorrow against
Melbourne City FC,” stated James.
Despite heavy rains
lashing the city, the Melbourne City FC head coach applauded the
efforts of ground staff and organisers in keeping the pitch in excellent
condition. “I don’t think the rains are going to have any impact on the
tournament courtesy the working staff who have managed to keep the ground in
perfect state,” signed off Joyce, who has previously managed the Manchester
United Reserves team.
LaLiga World match schedule
July 24, 2018 – Kerala
Blasters FC vs Melbourne City FC
July 27, 2018 – Girona FC
vs Melbourne City FC
July 28, 2018 – Kerala
Blasters FC vs Girona FC
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