Postponement of Manchester derby due to the state of the Bird’s Nest pitch shows the dangers of using pre-season to build a club’s brand Ch...
Postponement of Manchester derby due to the state of the Bird’s Nest pitch shows the dangers of using pre-season to build a club’s brand
Chase the dollar or chase bespoke, ideal preparation for the new season? This is the question fans of Manchester United and Manchester City may ask following the fiasco of Monday’s derby in Beijing being called off less than six hours before kick-off, and the less-than-perfect conditions often found after flights to far-off destinations for pre-season tours.
Given the pitch at the National Stadium was a patchwork of loose turf and was infected with fungus, the puzzle is why the match was not cancelled earlier. The result is damaging public relations for United, City and Relevant Sports, the International Champions Cup organiser, which is headed by Charlie Stillitano, the man whose brainchild the tournament is.
