The players have trained for the first time since crossing the Atlantic and American continent to the Pacific coast and for those who recall the 2009 summer tour, the surroundings are familiar.

The tour's opening match against Seattle Sounders is not until Wednesday which gives plenty of time for Roberto Di Matteo to continue the preparatory work begun at Cobham, and a double session was on the agenda for Sunday.

As three years ago, we are using the Seattle Seahawks NFL team's impressive training facility, 20-minutes drive outside of the city, on the picturesque shore of Lake Washington.

Having left a damp, grey London behind on Saturday morning, the weather to greet the squad for Sunday morning training was no better although the sun did emerge for periods once the session was underway.

That began with some jogging to shake a 10-hour flight out of legs followed by some sharpness and dribbling routines before games of head-or-volley tennis over a set of hurdles to complete the work. Lunch, then rest followed, before the immaculate pitches play host to the European champions once again.