Manchester United players believe Erik ten Hag’s intense training sessions are ‘contributing to fatigue and injuries’, according to ESPN.
The Red Devils played more matches than any other team across Europe last season.
They qualified for the finals of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup and followed that by a long pre-season.
Sixteen first-team players have been sidelined at various stages of the campaign already.
The defence has been hit particularly hard, with Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia long-term absentees.
Erik ten Hag must retain the players’ backing
There is no doubt that injuries have restricted Erik ten Hag from fielding his best starting XI.
Man United excelled last season due to their solidarity and consistency at the back.
Raphael Varane and Martinez were supreme in the heart of the defence. They were well-supported by Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Shaw at full-back.
Injuries have forced Ten Hag to test five different players at the left-back spot already this season.
Man United have just suffered a humiliating defeat to arch-rivals Manchester City.
Rumours like these that question a manager’s way of coaching are unsettling.
If intense training sessions are causing fatigue, then it is Ten Hag’s responsibility to sense it and make amendments.
He wants his team to play high-pressing and attacking football. The players must be extremely fit to press the opponents for a large part of the game.
If the players lose their energy on the training ground, they will quickly run out of gas during games.
Ten Hag must preserve his players as they play twice almost every week.
