Several senior Manchester United players believe Erik ten Hag’s intense pre-season training schedule is a major reason for the team’s poor start.
WHAT HAPPENED?
United have endured a difficult start to the new campaign which has been compounded by the loss to injury of a host of key players. Ten Hag was left without two-thirds of his first-team squad earlier this season and has seen key players including Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and Luke Shaw sidelined for long spells. Marcus Rashford, Andre Onana, Christian Eriksen and Rasmus Hojlund have added to United’s injury problems over the international break.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
There is a feeling within some members of the first-team squad that United’s injury problems have been caused by an intense pre-season training regime, according to The Guardian. The Red Devils played eight friendlies and took in a 12-day trip to the United States over the summer that left players feeling “overworked”. Senior stars have complained about “feeling as tired” at the start of the season as they did at the end of the last campaign. United have been beaten five times already in the Premier League and sit bottom of their Champions League group with one win from four games.
DID YOU KNOW?
nited have lost as many as nine of their opening 17 matches of a season in all competitions for the first time since 1973-74, which was the last season they were relegated.
WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?
Ten Hag is sweating on the fitness of several players ahead of United’s clash against Everton on Sunday. Onana pulled out of international duty with a pelvic injury and is a doubt for the game, while Hojlund and Eriksen could also miss the trip to Goodison Park. Rashford’s fitness is also an area for concern after he picked up a problem on England duty after a clash with Trent Alexander-Arnold.
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