The 2013 Premier League season is in the books. Now, Stoke City returns to the pitch with hopes of embarking on another solid run in 2014. The club is kicking off its summer tour this afternoon and will face German outfit Borussia Monchengladbach. The club friendly scheduled for 10 a.m. ET will be held Rottach Egern, Germany. Information on how and where to watch the match can be found here.
Today's match will be the first of three German fixtures for the Potters, with additional matches against 1860 Munich and Schalke 04 slated to follow today's encounter. For the club's coaching staff, jumping in head first against tough competition will serve as the tone setter for the upcoming campaign. "Maybe you can look for a simple or gentle start, but we've thought this time that we should go into a really tough campaign in preseason," said assistant head coach Mark Bowen (via Stoke Sentinel). "We're starting off against Borussia Monchengladbach, who were challenging for a Champions League place last year and are two weeks in front of us in terms of training."
"Then, we have 1860 Munich and finish off against Schalke, so it's three hard games against quality opposition who are probably a little bit in front of us in terms of fitness as well," he added. "Make no doubt about it, they will be really tough games, but they games we are relishing as well."
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