Stoke City were the first Premier League side in first team friendly action as they began their pre-season tour of Switzerland with a 1-0 victory in the opening fixture of the “2017 Uhrencup”.
Neuchatel Xamax 0 Stoke City 1
With just five days of pre-season training behind them, Mark Hughes’ side played out their first summer encounter and earned a 1-0 win over Swiss second division side Neuchatel Xamax in the Tissot Arena.
The opening match in the four-team Uhrencup – which also features BSC Young Boys and Benfica – was decided by a late own goal as Hughes used the opportunity to field two different XI’s over the two halves.
Mixing first-team players and Under 23s, Hughes started the match in a 4-2-3-1 formation and fielded Jack Butland in goal ahead of a defence that included captain Ryan Shawcross and full-backs Phil Bardsley and Erik Pieters.
Bojan started in the central attacking midfield position, with want-away Marko Arnautovic also named in the starting line-up. Saido Berahino was the lone striker.
Hughes’ early plans were disrupted by a back injury for Bardsley, who departed on 19 minutes. The problem was later reported as a knee injury.
Berahino is a player who will be monitored by Fantasy managers in pre-season, with the former West Brom man surely burdened with the responsibility of scoring 15+ goals next season. Stoke’s official website described the striker’s appearance as “incredibly trim”, although he fluffed his lines having been presented the best opportunity of the first half.
The striker was replaced by Peter Crouch for the second period as Hughes retained the same shape. Giannelli Imbula, Glen Johnson and new signing Josh Tymon were also introduced.
It was Belgian starlet Thibaud Verlinden – promoted to the first team squad for 2017/18 – who provided the spark that led to the match’s decisive moment when his 87th-minute cross was diverted into his own goal by the unfortunate Mustafa Sejmenović.
Hughes seemed happy with the win and overall performance, explaining the intention behind his line-ups.
“We mixed it up tonight with some young guns and some more senior lads, and I think that was the right thing to do. We are just getting started, and it is all about getting the minutes on the pitch, getting the timing of your play right and I saw quite a bit of that tonight which is satisfying.”
However, the Potters boss is likely to have been distracted by confirmation of the transfer request submitted by Arnautovic earlier that day.
With a renewed bid from West Ham United looming, this threatens to cast a shadow over pre-season preparations, with Arnautovic a crucial component of the Stoke attack.
Hughes’ post-match response to the news indicated this was perhaps not a situation that will quickly be resolved.
“Marko and his people have put in a transfer request, but that happens on occasions. Any comings and goings are at our discretion, and it’s our decision ultimately. Players can express an opinion or a view in terms of where they see their future but at the end of the day contracted players are contracted to the club and ultimately we have the final say.”
Arnautovic limped off after the first half in Switzerland and it remains to be seen if yesterday’s breaking story impacts on his pitch-time in the fixtures to come.
Stoke’s next Uhrencup encounter is against BSC Young Boys on Wednesday.
Stoke City XI First Half: Butland; Bardsley (Edwards 19), Shawcross, Sweeney, Pieters; Adam, Jarvis; Arnautovic, Bojan, Telford; Berahino.
Stoke City XI Second Half: Haugaard; Johnson, Wollscheid, Souttar, Tymon; Muniesa, Imbula; Ngoy, Shenton (Campbell 80), Verlinden; Crouch.
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