Manchester United are almost certainly set to miss out on a place in the Champions League next season.
30.03.2024 - 07:01 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
When the Manchester United squad reported to Carrington on Sunday, August 14, 2022, on another baking hot summer's day, they were expecting the usual post-match recovery day. Those players who had featured the previous day would generally be working inside, while the squad members who didn't feature would do a demanding session aimed at getting the intensity of a match into their legs. But on this day, it would be different.
Erik ten Hag's tenure in charge of the club is two games old but it already feels like it is on a precipice. Both games have been lost and the afternoon before United were 4-0 down at Brentford after 35 minutes. It is the low point in a year stacked full of dismal days to follow this football club and "you're not fit to wear the shirt" rains down from the away end.
Ten Hag looked stunned at what he saw unfolding in front of him, in temperatures hitting the mid-30s in west London, and when he gets to Carrington the following day he had a new session ready for his players. The Dutchman was stunned to see that his side had been outrun by Brentford to the tune of 13.8 km, so every player was made to run just that distance around Carrington. It was cooler than the day before, but it was still uncomfortably hot.
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Ten Hag made the squad rewatch that first-half performance and then wanted to know why they hadn't run at 100%. This wasn't just a punishment for a poor performance, however. Running hard and an intense work rate are non-negotiables for Ten Hag and he is a disciplinarian, but he is also aware that this is a collaborative effort, so he slips on his running
Manchester United are almost certainly set to miss out on a place in the Champions League next season.
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