Inside Man Utd’s ‘stag do’ Far East tour including clashes with fans, player protests and humiliating open-top bus trip
MANCHESTER UNITED endured a nightmare post-season tour in Asia including an embarrassing on-pitch display, a humiliating bus parade and unhappy players.
Following the club’s horror season, the decision to play two matches in the Far East to generate some extra cash was not a decision popular in the club.
In fact, according to the Manchester Evening News, when the squad learned of that decision a delegation was sent to the club’s football leadership on behalf of the first team to express their dismay.
Some of the squad were said to be outright “fuming” about having to go on the six-day tour after a 60-game season, though with commercial duties taking up much of the agenda the trip effectively became a four-day event.
Players were said to be concerned about having to cancel holiday plans, including one who complained about being forced to cancel a family trip scheduled for the half-term week.
Club chiefs made a concession by bringing the departure time of their Malaysia flight forwards to Sunday evening, hour following the final game of the season against Aston Villa, after learning some players might try to “cry off” the 14,150-mile round trip to Malaysia.
However, the actual mood in the camp on tour was said to be a better than anticipated despite the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham.
Some commercial player events including fan meet-and-greets are said to have taken up to two hours to complete as the local supporters lapped up the chance to see Man Utd in the flesh, including on the humiliating open-top bus parade which happened in Kuala Lumpur before the first friendly against ASEAN All-Stars.
Kit makers Adidas hosted a nocturnal poolside party at the W Hotel – where they stayed as part of their link with club sponsor, Marriott – following the 1-0 defeat to the All-Stars.
Several guests are said to have attended the meeting, with many “admiring” the view of the Petronas Twin Towers in the background.
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That came after players were said to have been using gallows humour on the team bus back to the hotel, which had followed some booing from fans there.
The rules on tour were more relaxed than a pre-season tour would be and players were given permission to head out on their first night in the city, with one star allegedly half-joking the trip would be “like a stag do”.
However, while some were tempted to go out into the city to enjoy the night, a senior star instead advised them to stay in.
Amad Diallo, Alejandro Garnacho and Ayden Heaven were seen out on e-scooters, which had to be paid for by fans, while Joshua Zirkzee opted to enjoy some Thai take-out with a security guard after not being impressed by the room service options.
Club staff were also able to let their hair down in the trip, with some enjoying drinks on the 14-hour flight to the Malaysian capital.
On the eighth floor of the hotel itself there was a vending machine which dispensed £40 mini bottles of Moet & Chandon champagne.
The second leg of the tour saw them go to Hong Kong, but they were barely in the country 36 hours following an early-morning flight which then saw them spend an hour in their second W Hotel for lunch before getting on the team bus for training.
Despite the glitz and glam of the 5-star establishment, things were sour away from the hotel with Amad and Garnacho seen gesturing their middle fingers towards fans and the latter doing so towards a club camerman.
Amad later revealed he had been subjected to insults about his mother from some fans.
Meanwhile, Garnacho – on the tour after being told to “pray” he finds a new club following a public dressing down in front of team-mates by Ruben Amorim – did the gesture without any clear provocation.
The 20-year-old was involved in a fan altercation while out in the city as the fan seemed to invade his personal space and also looked very unbothered during a shirt signing event.
He was described as “surly” during the trip, with club staff shadowing him closely as he signed shirts and posed for pictures without ever breaking into a smile.
The Argentine was one of the last to board to team bus after the All Stars defeat and donned sunglasses as he ignored requests in the mixed zone.
One eyewitness claimed he removed his shades after getting through the packed pen, while Amorim later chuckled in a press conference when a reporter asked if there was any chance of Garnacho staying at the club.
Amorim, 40, is said to have told a colleague about how exhausting the post-season tour had been, especially in the humidity of Malaysia.
Man Utd finished their tour by beating Hong Kong 3-1 off a brace from Chido Obi and a late header from Ayden Heaven.
The club lifted the Defining Education Challenge Cup as a result of the win, but the trophy was so undervalued that a press officer carried it back to the dressing room.
In the first game back in Kuala Lumpur, Man Utd stars had been delayed in collecting their silver medals when the referee and linesman had returned to the dressing room before being called back out.
All in all the tour was estimated to generate around £10million for the club – which should at least leave the club’s financial department a little happier- although you would imagine a post-season tour next year may not be on the cards.
After the break a pre-season tour in Chicago is next, which is when the real work begins.
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