Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United era to open in LA as EPL teams invade United States

THE Louis van Gaal era at Manchester United kicks off on Thursday as several of Premier League sides invade the United States.

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 22: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) (MINIMUM FEES APPLY -250 GBP PRINT & 125 GBP ONLINE OR LOCAL EQUIVALENT, PER IMAGE) Manager Louis van Gaal (R) of Manchester United and Assistant Manager Ryan Giggs (C) meet David Beckham at the team hotel as part of their pre-season tour of the United States on July 22, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matthew Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images)

FIFTY years after the Beatles launched a British musical “invasion” of America, English football clubs are playing pre-season matches in the US hoping to spark growth for the sport.

Premier League sides Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City will combine to play 16 matches on US soil in a follow on to strong American interest in the World Cup.

“Football is growing here, particularly after the World Cup, and every time you come over you see it’s getting bigger,” Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney told the team’s website.

Manager Louis van Gaal of Manchester United in action during a training session in Los Angeles.

“It’s incredible to see the number of fans who turn up to cheer us on. The crowds will be really good.” More than 55,000 watched as hosts Seattle drew 3-3 with Spurs in Saturday’s friendly, but the biggest and best events are yet to come.

New manager Louis Van Gaal kicks off his reign at Manchester United this week when the Reds visit Los Angeles Galaxy, already in the middle of their Major League Soccer season, on Wednesday to kick off their US tour.

The 62-year-old Dutchman, who replaced the sacked David Moyes, guides United in the States after directing the Netherlands to a third-place finish at the World Cup earlier this month, leaving barely a break in between assignments.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers with new signing Adam Lallana in America.

“That’s no problem for me. I don’t need a holiday,” Van Gaal said.

“It’s great to have such an exciting challenge. To work daily with young people is something that I don’t need time off to rest for. I’m looking forward to it.

“I’ll do my best. Whether that’s enough for the fans I will wait and see, but I genuinely hope that will be the case.” Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City will play in the International Champions Cup, a collection of pre-season matches between top European clubs all preparing for the start of their domestic campaigns.

Manchester United will play AS Roma on Saturday in Denver, meet Inter Milan on July 29 in Washington and face Real Madrid on August 2 in suburban Detroit before a sold-out Michigan Stadium crowd of about 110,000, the largest US crowd ever for the sport.

More than 31 million people watched Premier League matches as part of a $US250 million ($A270 million) deal last season under a new US television contract with US Olympic telecaster NBC and World Cup ratings were strong in America even beyond the US squad’s march to the last 16.

Originally published as Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United era to open in LA as EPL teams invade United States