Erik ten Hag 'orders Manchester United players back two weeks early'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 10 May 2022

Ten Hag 'orders Man United players back two weeks early'

Incoming Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag orders the club's players to return to pre-season training two weeks early, according to a report.

Incoming Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has reportedly ordered the club's players to return to pre-season training two weeks earlier than originally planned.

Ten Hag will officially begin work with the Red Devils at the end of the campaign, but the Dutchman has seemingly been putting plans in place for next term since his appointment was confirmed.

A disappointing 2021-22 campaign has left Man United down in sixth position in the Premier League table, with the club battling West Ham United for a spot in next season's Europa League.

The 20-time English champions suffered a 4-0 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, while they have only been victorious in two of their last nine matches in all competitions.

According to The Mirror, Man United players had originally been told that they would be required back in pre-season training on July 4.

Manchester United's Jadon Sancho celebrates scoring their first goal with Alex Telles, Fred and Bruno Fernandes on March 6, 2022 © Reuters

However, the report claims that the first-team squad have now been ordered back in on June 20, as Ten Hag wants them to undergo extra fitness work ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.

The Dutchman is allegedly concerned that the current squad would be unable to play the high-tempo football that he will demand in his first season at the helm.

Ten Hag is reportedly set to hold Zoom meetings with Man United's players over the next couple of weeks, as he sets out his plans for the future.

A poor run of form led to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer losing his job as Red Devils head coach last November, but Ralf Rangnick has also struggled to get consistent performances out of the current group, and the team could finish as low as seventh if they fail to pick up a positive result against Crystal Palace in their final game of the season.

There will be huge changes at Old Trafford this summer, with a number of players set to move on, including Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani on free transfers.

Ajax coach Erik ten Hag reacts in April 2021 © Reuters

Ten Hag will allegedly have £100m to spend on new signings in the current market, but the club are also said to be keen to explore the free agent market.

Rangnick recently claimed that "six or eight" new signings could arrive in the upcoming market, with Benfica's Darwin Nunez thought to be a leading target in the final third of the field.

Lazio's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Villarreal's Pau Torres are also being strongly linked with moves to the club, but the likes of West Ham United's Declan Rice and Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane are expected to prove too expensive for the club without Champions League football.

Cristiano Ronaldo's future has also been the subject of much speculation, but the Portugal international is likely to remain at Old Trafford, at least for another season.

Ten Hag's Ajax side, who drew 2-2 with AZ on Sunday, are currently four points clear of second-placed PSV Eindhoven at the top of the Eredivisie table with two games left.