Manchester City are heading out to Asia for their pre-season tour in 2023. So, here is everything you need to know about what Pep Guardiola has in store for the Etihad Stadium outfit during the summer this year.
The Citizens are flying out to Asia to play in some high-profile exhibition games as Guardiola gets his title-winning side back up to pace. Manchester City had a very successful season this term in Erling Haaland’s first campaign. They won the Premier League title and made the FA Cup and Champions League finals.
Guardiola will be aiming for more of the same in 2023/24. While their pre-season tour also gives the best talents in Manchester City’s academy a chance to impress. So, here is everything you need to know on their plans for the summer of 2023 as Manchester City fly to Japan and South Korea for their pre-season…
When does Manchester City’s pre-season start?
Guardiola ordered the Manchester City’s first-team squad to return to Etihad Campus to begin their pre-season training on July 17. The Citizens boss allowed his players an extended break after their triumphs in 2022/23. The Etihad Stadium side only regrouped for training a week before their first friendly on July 23.
Manchester City’s fixture list for their 2023 pre-season
As of June 1, Manchester City have confirmed three pre-season friendlies for their 2023 tour of Asia. The trip marks the Citizens’ first time visiting Japan since 2019 and sees Guardiola’s side meet J-League club Yokohama F Marinos again. Kevin De Bruyne contributed to a 3-1 win the last time that the two sides met.
Manchester City will also hold a repeat of their 2022/23 Champions League quarter-final with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich. The Sky Blues ran out comfortable 3-0 victors in the first leg before claiming a 1-1 draw in Bavaria to progress. The two clubs also met in a pre-season friendly in 2022 that City won 1-0.
Atletico Madrid will then await Manchester City in South Korea as part of the Coupang Play Series. The tie marks the final friendly that Guardiola and Etihad Stadium chiefs have scheduled for Manchester City this summer. But they will return to England to also feature in the Community Shield at Wembley on August 6.
South Korea has not hosted Manchester City in the East Asian nation since 1976. The likes of Glyn Pardoe, Alan Oakes, Willie Donnachie and Dennis Tueart represented the Citizens in a pre-season friendly against a Korea XI. Manchester City also last met Atletico Madrid in the 2021/22 Champions League quarter-final.
- July 23, KO 11:00 BST: Man City vs Yokohama F Marinos, Japan National Stadium, Tokyo
- July 26, KO 11:30 BST: Man City vs Bayern Munich, Japan National Stadium, Tokyo
- July 30, KO 12:00 BST: Man City vs Atletico Madrid, Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul
How to watch Manchester City’s 2023 pre-season fixtures
Manchester City have confirmed that fans in the UK can watch the club’s pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea via CITY+. Only fans in the UK can also access their friendly with Yokohama F Marinos. But fans in both the UK and Germany can watch Manchester City’s pre-season meeting with Bayern Munich.
Additionally, fans all around the world except for in South Korea can watch Manchester City’s pre-season friendly against Atletico Madrid. Those same restrictions also apply to the full-match replays and Pitcam highlights. While CITY+ costs £4.99 a month or £34.99 a year and is available online or via the club’s app.
Tickets for Manchester City’s summer schedule
Tickets for Manchester City’s friendlies against Yokohama F Marinos, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid over their pre-season tour of Asia are yet to go on sale. The Citizens have only stated that information on admission for their three games held in Japan and South Korea will be announced in due course thus far.
