Tottenham, Sunderland and South China FC will provide the opposition for the sixth edition of the only Premier League-affiliated competition held outside of the UK.
The Premier League, the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) and Barclays have announced that the four-team knockout tournament will be played over two match days on Wednesday 24 and Saturday 27 July 2013.
All matches will take place at the Hong Kong Stadium, a stadium City last visited in May 2008 for a pre-season friendly against a Hong Kong Invitational XI which the hosts won 3-1.
It will mark City’s second appearance in the Barclays Asia Trophy, having featured in 2005’s tournament in Thailand where the Blues finished in third after losing on penalties to Bolton, before winning the third-place play-off by the same method against Everton.
This will be the second successive summer that City will be visiting the Far East after trips to China and Malaysia in July 2012.
Chelsea won the last Barclays Asia trophy in 2011, taking the trophy back to London after a 2-0 win over Aston Villa in the final.
Roberto Mancini said: “The Barclays Asia Trophy will be a fantastic challenge for Manchester City.
“It gives us the opportunity to showcase the club’s footballing talent to our supporters in Hong Kong, which is such a vibrant venue to host a high quality tournament like this.
“We experienced the passion that football fans in Asia have for the Barclays Premier League when we visited China and Malaysia last year and we are very much looking forward to this summer.”
...Roberto Mancini...
Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Scudamore, said: “We are hugely excited at the Premier League to be bringing the Barclays Asia Trophy back to Hong Kong for a third time.
“The 2011 tournament was without doubt our most successful to date and the atmosphere inside the Hong Kong Stadium on both nights was particularly memorable.
“I believe we are bringing to the Barclays Asia Trophy Hong Kong our strongest ever line-up of teams. Again, in Manchester City, we have the reigning Barclays Premier League champions taking part.
...Richard Scudamore, Premier League Chief Executive...
“They are clubs of outstanding pedigree and history who represent the best of the Barclays Premier League: they have some of the world’s best footballers, they are winners and they also have many fans in Hong Kong that they are looking forward to entertaining.”
Robert Morrice, Chairman and CEO, Barclays Asia, said: “The Barclays Premier League has a great following across Asia and this is particularly true in Hong Kong where we have a hotbed of passionate fans.
“Hong Kong is one of our regional hubs, so we are delighted that the Barclays Asia Trophy is returning to Hong Kong for a third time. This tournament will bring fans closer to the action and give Barclays the chance to engage with our clients and the community.”
Brian Leung, Chairman of the Hong Kong Football Association, said: “There is fanatical following of the Barclays Premier League in Hong Kong and the Barclays Asia Trophy is always one of the highlights of the football calendar.
“The HKFA is delighted to welcome the event to Hong Kong once again and to be associated with such an esteemed competition. We can’t wait to welcome some of the world’s best footballers to Hong Kong.”
...Brian Leung, Chairman of Hong Kong FA...
Ticketing and travel information for Hong Kong and UK based fans will be announced towards the end of the Barclays Premier League season via the HKFA and mcfc.co.uk.
