Incoming new manager Erik ten Hag instructs first-team players to return early for rigorous pre-season training
According to the Mirror, incoming new Manchester United permanent manager Erik ten Hag has ordered the first-team players to return to the club two weeks early to begin their preparations for pre-season training, after being unimpressed with the fitness levels.
The Dutchman will take over the Red Devils at the end of the current campaign, replacing Ralf Rangnick in the manager’s hot seat. He is currently in charge of Ajax Amsterdam, on course to lead them to their third consecutive Eredivisie title.
The 52-year-old has implemented a pressing style in his team at Ajax, which he intends to impose on his new set of players at United. This will require them to be at peak fitness in order to keep up with all the running and maintain their energy levels throughout the game.
He will have quite the task on his hands in order to weave his magic on this Red Devils squad, who have failed to impress this term and were unable to win any silverware. They look set to finish sixth in the Premier League table, missing out on playing Champions League football next season.
Unimpressed with fitness levels
It is said that thus far, the incoming new boss has been unimpressed with the fitness levels of the squad he is inheriting from Rangnick in the summer. As a result, he has ordered the players to return from their summer break two weeks early to join him for pre-season training.
While teams like Liverpool and Manchester City are playing a high amount of games deep into the season, some United players have arguably started to look fatigued towards the end of games- case in point being the recent 4-0 drubbing at the hands of the Reds.
The Dutchman is of the opinion that an extra two weeks of rigorous fitness work is needed to make sure the stars are able to keep up with the demands while playing his preferred style of football. This will see the players return to Carrington the week beginning June 20, when they were initially told only to report on July 4.
The incumbent Ajax boss clearly means business next season, and looks set to make his mark on the team quite early on. The 2022/23 Premier League campaign begins on August 6, but ten Hag does not look like he is waiting around to get to work.
After a dismal campaign in England as well as in Europe, the Red Devils need a major boost in the upcoming season to get back to winning ways. The Dutchman is expected to usher in a new era at Old Trafford when he takes over, trying to get the club back to its glory days.
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He is said to have planned individual Zoom chats with United’s players this week to assess the squad and see what he can work with. ten Hag has also watched the Manchester side’s last few games remotely and has identified poor fitness and a lack of conditioning as reasons for their inconsistency this term.
Fans will be thrilled to hear about their new permanent manager already working behind the scenes to change the team’s fortunes in the near future. The next few weeks will be a crucial time for the club with the opening of the summer transfer window, and only time will tell who ten Hag is looking to sell and also bring in after assessing his squad in pre-season.