Open Day At Old Trafford

Thousands of fans braved the wet weather to watch the players train at Old Trafford on Saturday and helped raise money for the Manchester United Foundation.

The annual open training event gives supporters a rare opportunity to see the Reds being put through their paces at close quarters and, despite the monsoon-like conditions early on, fans packed into North Stand Tier 1 to see their heroes in action.

New signings Phil Jones, David De Gea and Ashley Young were all involved in the hour-long session as the Reds continued their preparations for the new season and geared up for the Community Shield clash with Manchester City at Wembley.

"This event seems to get bigger every year," said Sir Alex during an interview with stadium announcer Alan Keegan on the pitch. "It's a great opportunity for the fans to see what we do in training and get an insight into the intensity of our sessions."

Following the players' workout, fans watched Mexican side Pachuca beat Orlando Pirates from South Africa in the final of the Manchester United Premier Cup.

The whole event went a long way to generating vital funds for the Manchester United Foundation which delighted chief executive John Shiels.

"The turnout was absolutely fantastic," he said. "We've always had great support from the fans for this event and they came out in their droves once again.

"It's a great day for the fans and the money will go back into our work with young people in the local community."