1 week Ago By Paul McNamara
Sharing a stage with Manchester United can motivate Hong Kong’s players, but it is not the ultimate test, according to coach Ashley Westwood – the AFC Asian Cup qualifier against India days later has that billing. After months of speculation, it was confirmed this week that 20-time Premier League champions United will play the city team at Hong Kong Stadium on May 30. Westwood said the match would raise the curtain on an “important and intense period”, with Hong Kong facing Nepal in a friendly on June 5, five days before the “ultimate game” against India.
He said there was a “strong possibility” of his team making their Kai Tak Stadium debut for the latter fixture. The Post has been told the Nepal clash was likely to happen at Mong Kok Stadium. Englishman Westwood is expecting it to be “easy to motivate players” to tackle United, where he was an academy player, although the job of whittling down his squad to 23 or 24 members was growing tougher.
“We’re getting stronger, our preliminary squads are getting bigger and there are more decisions for me to make,” Westwood said..
