Pranav Nair
Manchester United will not kick off their 2020-21 Premier League season on September 12
According to ESPN, Manchester United will not open their 2020-21 Premier League campaign on September 12.
The Red Devils have been granted an extended break following their European commitments. United were in action last Sunday as they were beaten by Sevilla in the Europa League semifinals.
As per the report, the club is set to receive a 30-day break between the end of the current campaign and the beginning of the next.
This will see them miss out on the opening day fixture on 12th. United will instead kick off the season with a mid-week game a few days later.
Having reached the semifinals of three major trophies, United have had to endure a long and tiring season. Fatigue was apparent as the players failed to reach their usual levels over the past few weeks.
Thankfully, the squad has been given two weeks off and will report to training early next month. Although it is debatable if such a brief break is enough, it can at the very least ensure some much-needed downtime for our players. (h/t ESPN)
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is hopeful of having a two-week pre-season prior to playing the season opener. Given the tight schedule, he might be running it a little too close for comfort.
According to the report, United will organize a few friendly matches to ensure the players are up to speed. There will, however, not be any international friendlies.
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With months of football ahead, Solskajer will need to show his ability to manage a squad next season. United should also make an effort to dip into the market this summer.
Adding not just quality but also strength in depth is a key consideration given our commitments on multiple fronts. With the European championships and the Olympics scheduled for next summer, a number of United players will be pushed to their limits.
