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Phil Neville: Everton Are Well Prepared For MLS All-Stars
The skipper believes that his fellow Toffees are ready for their next pre-season test.
Jul 28, 2009 1:19:47 AM
Everton captain Phil Neville has declared that the Blues are well prepared for the Major League Soccer All-Star match in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Merseyside club tasted a shock 2-0 defeat to Real Salt Lake two summers ago, but the skipper firmly believes that the squad is well equipped to handle the heat and humidity at Rio Tinto stadium.
"It was a shock to our system playing in that kind of heat and humidity," Neville has been quoted on the club’s official website as saying.
"We were well and truly beaten and we are better prepared this time. We know it will be tough, they are the best players in the MLS and they will want to show that against us."
The 32-year-old also said that this would be a chance for the Blues to gauge how far they have come during the pre-season.
"I think it is so important now, with two weeks to go to the start of the season, as a fitness exercise," he acknowledged.
"To play top-class opposition is good preparation and a lot of their players will be sharper than us because it's the middle of their season.
"It's a chance to see how far we have come in our pre-season."
Everton will play the MLS All-Star team on Wednesday, at 7:30 pm, local time in Utah.
Adithya Ananth, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
The Merseyside club tasted a shock 2-0 defeat to Real Salt Lake two summers ago, but the skipper firmly believes that the squad is well equipped to handle the heat and humidity at Rio Tinto stadium.
"It was a shock to our system playing in that kind of heat and humidity," Neville has been quoted on the club’s official website as saying.
"We were well and truly beaten and we are better prepared this time. We know it will be tough, they are the best players in the MLS and they will want to show that against us."
The 32-year-old also said that this would be a chance for the Blues to gauge how far they have come during the pre-season.
"I think it is so important now, with two weeks to go to the start of the season, as a fitness exercise," he acknowledged.
"To play top-class opposition is good preparation and a lot of their players will be sharper than us because it's the middle of their season.
"It's a chance to see how far we have come in our pre-season."
Everton will play the MLS All-Star team on Wednesday, at 7:30 pm, local time in Utah.
Adithya Ananth, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
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