Erik ten Hag’s disciplinary ways at Manchester United are already having a big effect on the squad.
It was reported a number of weeks ago that Ten Hag, ahead of the trip to Bangkok, had installed five new rules that were not to be broken around the training centre.
One of these rules was players will be dropped should they be late for team meetings or training, and this has already been enforced.
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According to Andy Mitten and Laurie Whitwell of the Athletic, one player was late for team meetings on two occasions during the course of the tour.
Ten Hag had been planning to use said player in a game but dropped him ‘by way of punishment’, in an effort to remind the squad that punctuality is important to him.
A number of senior players, including David de Gea and Bruno Fernandes, have welcomed this new change that punishes lateness.
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Speaking on tardiness, David de Gea noted: “Of course, you cannot be late. People who work in their jobs, you cannot be late. So I think you cannot be late for training, we cannot be late for the meetings. That’s life, you have to be on time and professional.”
When questioned on if he thinks some of his team mates ‘lost focus’ last season, his answer was simple: “I don’t know. In general, if you want to perform properly, you have to be more focused at the top level.”
Bruno Fernandes shared similar sentiments, with an emphasis on it meaning players will all be on the “same page”.
"He brings discipline but he also gives players the freedom to make choices.
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“But he has his own rules we have to follow, but he also wants to give some responsibility to the older ones.”
“If everyone understands that we have to follow the rules,” continued Fernandes, “follow what the coach demands and what the team demands, everyone will be on the same page, so that's what will make the team successful.”
During the club’s first two fixtures of pre-season against Liverpool and Melbourne Victory, most players played 45 minutes each. However, against both Crystal Palace and Aston Villa there was a clear first and second XI, with one playing 60-65 minutes and the other 25-30 minutes.
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The report states that during the club’s final two fixtures against Atletico Madrid in Oslo and Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford, both XI’s will have the chance to play a full 90 minutes, with the stronger XI set to take on Atleti.
Ten Hag specifically requested a second fixture that weekend as he wanted as many players as possible to get 90 minutes each under their belt, and new CEO Richard Arnold was happy to oblige through the arrangement of the Rayo Vallecano fixture.
Manchester United are due to play their first Premier League fixture of the season on 7 August against Brighton & Hove Albion, with Erik ten Hag’s main mission for the league season to finish inside the top four and secure Champions League football.
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The manager will reportedly earn a £3 million bonus should he be successful in said aim, with the club set to lose out on up to a further £90 million should they fail to qualify for a second season in a row.
Topics: Manchester United, Erik Ten Hag, Bruno Fernandes, David De Gea
Dylan Penketh