With that, of course, comes certain commercial responsibilities, to which a small portion of the afternoon was dedicated. The planning for these tours stretches back many months, and involves the football staff who determine the appropriate timing and level of commercial and media engagements.
Once the players freshened up, they headed to different places in the hotel or across the city, coming across some fans waiting outside the hotel in the meantime, which, as usual in these cases, drew Beatles-esque mania.
A group of six headed to the adidas store in Chicago to meet fans who’d been queuing since 9am, thankfully far removed from the brewing storm which emptied its load in mid-afternoon to leave a crisper, sun-filled evening. There were plenty of photos, handshakes and wishes of good luck. And many smiles on faces, to quote the old United song. That is, after all, what underlies everything in this game we love: the ability of these talented players to put smiles on faces.
On Friday, the Reds train at Chicago’s Soldier Field stadium — where we play next Wednesday — live on MUTV, before flying to New Jersey ahead of Saturday’s opening game of the Premier League Summer Series against West Ham.