EPL clubs brace up for 2017-18 campaign

…as pre-season tours kicks off

Premier League teams have returned to work as players begin pre-season training ahead of the 2017-18 campaign.

 

The clubs aiming to strike the perfect balance between fitness and finance during their summer tours as the 25th Premier League season begins on 11 August.

 

Premier League clubs are aiming to strike the perfect balance between fitness and finance during their pre-season tours.

 

Australia, China and the United States are among the destinations for more than 100 fixtures this summer.

 

The 20 top-flight sides will also travel within Europe as they seek to combine the best pre-season training with brand promotion around the world.

 

 

It is a tough balancing act between getting the players ready for that new campaign and exploiting sponsorship opportunities, says football finance expert Rob Wilson.

 

“Last year, China seemed to be the significant market and a lot of teams focused on that – but the North American market is the one the teams have been looking at this summer, largely because of sponsorship values,” Wilson told BBC Sport.

 

“The clubs will be looking to pick up affluent sponsors and there is a nice alignment between American brands and sponsorship deals for the clubs to exploit.”

 

Wilson, from Sheffield Hallam University, says it is difficult to get the right pre-season training while reaping the financial benefits of a tour.

 

“The choice of friendlies in Germany and Austria is about season preparation being at the forefront of clubs’ minds, rather than looking for sponsorship deals,” he said. “Arsenal have always been very good at that in the past – putting football first. Others are much more focused on commercial drive.”

 

With no World Cup or European Championship this summer – though there was the Confederations Cup, won by Germany – managers and players will be more fully focused on preparing for the new domestic season.

 

Former QPR midfielder Bradley Simmonds is a fitness coach to players including former Chelsea and England captain John Terry and Arsenal forward Theo Walcott. He says there are some benefits to the long-distance travelling.

 

“Lots of teams go to different countries to experience playing against different sides, so if they come to play in the Champions League they are used to playing against a range of top sides,” he said.

 

Defending Premier League champions Chelsea travel to China on 22 July to face familiar opposition in Arsenal.

 

Arsene Wenger’s Gunners side will have already played two matches in Australia by then as they notch up the most miles through July and August.

 

They meet again in the Community Shield the week before the league season kicks off.

 

Although Arsenal will travel the furthest, they will return to England to face Benfica and Sevilla before the end of July.

 

Manchester United and Manchester City have lined up a derby meeting during their tour of the United States. Jose Mourinho’s United and Pep Guardiola’s City face each other in Houston, Texas on 21 July.

 

The fixture is part of the International Champions Cup in the USA, which also features Tottenham, Real Madrid, Juventus, Barcelona, Paris St-Germain and Roma.

 

Liverpool take part in the Audi Cup in Germany, where they face Bayern Munich and then either Atletico Madrid or Napoli.

 

Everton’s first trip is to Tanzania to face Kenyan champions Gor Mahia FC. The African side have just appointed former Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds defender Dylan Kerr as their head coach.

 

Premier League newcomers Huddersfield Town will travel to Austria at the start of August, but enjoy some trips closer to home during July when they face Accrington Stanley, Bury and Barnsley.

 

Watford are the first to get their pre-season under way, with a trip to Woking on 8 July.

 

Burnley and West Brom have chosen to divide their squad to play some fixtures on the same day.

 

Anthony Nlebem with wire reports