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United have been training at the immaculate Pingry School in New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York City. For those who have watched The Sopranos, the houses on the drive through Jersey were reminiscent of Tony and Carmela's house. Alas, that particular property is three-quarters of an hour away from United's training base.

Erik ten Hag attended his first press conference of the tour which lasted 21 minutes. Before he took his seat, the United manager presented a shirt to Miller Bugliari, the ‘winningest’ US high school soccer coach.

Bugliari is 90 but as sharp as a tack and held court for an engaging chat with Denis Irwin and one of the Pingry coaches. The school hosted Italy for six weeks during the 1994 World Cup and Irwin nostalgically reminisced about the Republic of Ireland's surprising 1-0 win over the Italians in the Giants Stadium.

The sports facilities at American schools and colleges are out of this world and put the UK to shame, particularly given the number of playing fields sold in the last decade. United were put through morning and afternoon sessions on Friday, with the latter reserved for tactical training to prepare for the game with Arsenal on Saturday evening.

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United very generously hosted a media match involving UK and US journalists as well as umpteen ringers. It was a 4-3 defeat for the four dedicated correspondents of the Manchester pack who participated in an hour-long game that Irwin breezed through, playing a half for each team.

The temperature was in the mid-20s on a day storms were forecast but it was bright sunshine with few clouds; a forecast they could do with at the other Old Trafford for the remaining days of the Test.

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