The Red Devils will face the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona in their pre-season tour.
Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard (Photo: Facebook)
Manchester United have a daunting pre-season fixture list, with the Red Devils set to be pitted against some of the best teams in the world, but midfielder Jesse Lingard isn't worried as he feels the players have become accustomed to playing top sides every year.
Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona, among others are the big-names that United will face during their pre-season tour of the USA.
"We’re used to playing top teams in pre-season, such as Real Madrid and Barcelona, and it’s always a good experience,” Lingard was quoted as saying by the club website.
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Real, who won the La Liga and the Champions League last season, play United on July 23 at the Levi's Stadium, a fortnight before the sides play each other for the UEFA Super Cup in Macedonia.
"Hopefully, we can perform well in those games and take good form into the new season. Every tour game is important, even if it’s just to build match fitness, and it’s good that everyone can get a run out and get a taste of what it’s like and take that forward,” Lingard added.
Lingard scored when United beat Barcelona at the same stadium during pre-season in 2015, a match the 24-year-old hopes will serve the players well ahead of this summer's visit.
"It’ll be good to be back playing at the Levi's Stadium. I remember the team we had in the second half [in the 3-1 win over Barcelona in 2015] was quite a young team, but we linked up really well and got the win.
"This year, I’m most looking forward to the games themselves and building team spirit with the lads. Pre-season tours are good for bonding with each other, and in our free time there’s the chance to go out and explore," Lingard said.
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