Manchester United starts training for tour

Manchester United, minus many of its stars, began its training for its North American tour at Toyota Park in Bridgeview with a crisp 59-minute session conducted in 90-degree heat before about 1,500 fans on Wednesday.

The Red Devils open their four-match trip in Toronto on Friday against Celtic of the Scottish Premier League. After two matches against Major League Soccer sides, it concludes in Houston on July 28 with a match against the MLS All-Stars.

"That will probably be our toughest game," Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said. "It's probably a bigger game for MLS than it is for us. I think you'll find they'll be well motivated because of that. We're used to the fact teams always want to play well against us."

It's Manchester United's third preseason trip to North America since Ferguson became manager in 1986.

"Each time I see an improvement in American soccer," Ferguson said. "The MLS has proven itself now. The performance of the (U.S.) national team helps. They were very credible in their performance in the World Cup, and I think that helped the younger people in the States.

"We know there are millions of kids playing. The MLS has to structure itself so these kids can eventually get to MLS. It'll take time to build a pyramid of soccer so they get to the MLS."

Manchester United was without World Cup participants Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra, Michael Carrick, Nemanja Vidic and Ji-sung Park. They get 30 days off before they're required to begin their next season.

Manchester United's English Premier League season begins August 16, when it hosts Newcastle.

The training session, the first on-field event of United's trip, was held in the southwest suburbs of Chicago because the team's new corporate sponsor, AON, is headquartered downtown.