Chelsea, Aston Villa and Blackburn will take part in the Barclays Asia Trophy in Hong Hong next summer.
Chelsea, Aston Villa and Blackburn confirmed in Asia Trophy
Chelsea, Aston Villa and Blackburn have been confirmed in the line-up for the Barclays Asia Trophy in Hong Kong next summer.
The Hong Kong First Division champions will also take part in the Premier League-affiliated pre-season tournament.
The semi-finals of the four-team knock-out event will be played on Wednesday, 27th July, with the final and third-place matches then taking place on Saturday, 30th July.
Chelsea were the inaugural winners of the biennial tournament in 2003 and present boss Carlo Ancelotti believes the fixtures will slot in suitably with the club's pre-season plans in Malaysia and Thailand, which have already been announced.
Look forward
He said: "We look forward to taking part in the Barclays Asia Trophy having played matches and trained in Malaysia and Thailand before the tournament begins.
"Games against two Premier League sides and the Hong Kong champions will provide excellent preparation for the team ahead of the start of next season."
Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce won the Asia Trophy in 2005 when he was manager of Bolton Wanderers and he is delighted to take part again.
He told Blackburn's
official website: "I've some great memories of being involved with Asia Trophy, and that's not just because I managed to win it!
Learning experience
"The competition was both enjoyable and a great learning experience. To be able to go back to Asia and do it again with Rovers is a really exciting prospect, and I know that everyone connected with the club - the players, management, officials and fans - will benefit.
"When I was out there in 2005 with Bolton it was staged in Bangkok and I remember playing against Manchester City, Everton and the Thai u23 national team in a packed stadium with a terrific atmosphere. It looks like another great line up in Hong Kong and I can't wait to be part of it."
Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier added: "The Barclays Asia Trophy is a tournament which Aston Villa is very much looking forward to competing in.
"It will be exciting to play in Hong Kong and the tournament will be a central part of our preparations for the 2011/12 season."
