Italian football giants AC Milan saw their public training session at Hong Kong Stadium interrupted by heavy rain on Friday evening, forcing players to temporarily leave the pitch.
Despite the weather setback, hundreds of dedicated fans remained at the venue, waiting over half an hour until the downpour eased and training resumed.
The Rossoneri are preparing for Saturday's high-profile friendly against English Premier League champions Liverpool.
Among the spectators was a decade-long AC Milan supporter who expressed disappointment at the weather disruption but remained optimistic about seeing Portuguese forward Rafael Leão shine in the match.
"Even if beating Liverpool seems unlikely, if the team seizes attacking opportunities, they can still deliver a strong performance," the fan said.
Before the rain interruption, the session began in lively fashion with fans chanting and waving team jerseys.
Supporters maintained high spirits despite the deteriorating conditions, with one attendee noting, "The atmosphere here is fantastic - a little rain won't dampen our excitement to see the players up close."
Some supporters voiced concerns about the club's recent competitiveness compared to Europe's elite teams.
"With more investment from the owners, AC Milan could gradually return to top form," one fan suggested, expressing hope for a top-four Serie A finish and Champions League qualification this season.
At a pre-training press conference, head coach Massimiliano Allegri acknowledged the challenge ahead, saying that the clash with Liverpool will be a difficult test of the team’s overall attacking and defensive capabilities.
The Italian manager noted that playing at Hong Kong's larger Kai Tak Stadium- compared to their recent Singapore friendly venue against Arsenal - with more spectators, should motivate stronger performances from his squad.
Allegri also discussed his recent return to coaching the team, emphasizing current focus on physical conditioning and building tactical understanding through training.
Marco Lam (marco.lam@singtaonewscorp.com)
Video credit: Christopher Chan/Facebook
