Source: Daily_Mail
On tour with Manchester United: Belly dancers and bleary-eyed training sessions
Javier Hernandez wasn't the only player feeling groggy in training during what has been an eventful few days in New York for Manchester United.[LNB]Sources say that Sunday's workout was some way short of strenuous after the players spent Saturday night enjoying the burlesque show and belly-dancers at nightspot Lavo followed by a trip to Chelsea's Juliet Supperclub in the early hours.[LNB]Only a handful of them did not take advantage of a free pass from Sir Alex Ferguson to go out on their first night in the Big Apple after arriving on an evening flight from Chicago where the Premier League champions had recorded a third straight win on tour.[LNB] Cup flows over: United have been allowed to let their hair down in New York[LNB]Ferguson did not make it to training the following morning, and the after-effects of their socialising meant that most of his players wished they hadn't either. It was described as a half-paced session at best, but no doubt the touring party welcomed an opportunity to get out on the town after being cooped up for much of their time in Boston, Seattle and Chicago.[LNB]Of course it made for a colourful diary piece in the New York Post which caused a brief stir on Tuesday morning until everyone realised that 30-odd young men going out in one of the greatest cities in the world with their manager's blessing after a convincing win, four days before their next pre-season game, hardly constituted a scandal.[LNB]Nor does watching a bunch of belly dancers or a Moulin Rouge routine register on the scale compared to what footballers often get up to.[LNB]Hernandez joined up with the squad here after an extended break following his participation for Mexico in the Gold Cup, but no sooner had Chicharito checked in than he was knocked out by what we are told was an 'awkward header'. [LNB] Party time! Some of the United squad took in a burlesque show in the Big Apple[LNB]It has to be a hell of an awkward header to knock someone senseless, but it was enough to warrant genuine concern about Hernandez's condition and a night in a New Jersey hospital.[LNB]His absence was a big blow to the large Mexican contingent who headed for the Red Bull Arena on Wednesday hoping to see their hero play in a game that witnessed his arrival as a United player 12 months ago when he scored on his debut shortly after coming on as a substitute in the 2010 All-Star Game in Houston.[LNB]Doctors were actually keen to keep Hernandez in for observation until Friday, but he was released from hospital on Wednesday and was able to watch the match at the team hotel on the Hudson River waterfront in Hoboken, New Jersey, before boarding the flight to Washington DC on Thursday.[LNB]Ferguson's side hardly struggled for goals without him again, winning 4-0 to take their total on this tour to 18 in four games with just two conceded.[LNB]The hoopla surrounding the All-Star Game meant United had more high-profile engagements here than any other stop on tour. They included a reception with New York mayor Michael Bloomberg at City Hall and Michael Owen switching on the lights at the Empire State Building. [LNB] Don't give up the day job: Hernandez teams up with Nani (left), Evra struts his stuff with Owen (right) and the Da Silva brothers take a stroll down the catwalk (below)[LNB] The players also modelled clothes at a fashion show in aid of charity at the Cipriani Hotel on Wall Street, while United coaches hosted a soccer clinic for inner city kids in Harlem.[LNB]The highlight will be a trip to the White House after United land in the US capital on Thursday, although whether Barack Obama will be able to take time out from resolving America's crippling $14.3trillion national debt to meet Ferguson and his players remains to be seen.[LNB]And United fans thought they had problems with the Glazers and a ?475million debt.[LNB] CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE FANTASY FOOTBALL GAMEOn tour with Manchester United: We're going to need a bigger plane!MLS All-Stars 0 Manchester United 4: Berba outshines Becks as Reds romp in USHernandez faces race to be fit for start of the season after suffering concussionAll the latest Manchester United news, features and opinion[LNB]
