Man United manager Erik ten Hag has given his players an extra incentive to not concede goals by dishing out exercise-based punishment if their opponent scores in training.
A fundamental element of the Dutchman’s re-build at Manchester United is the need to change the culture. Last season, the Red Devils suffered from near-constant speculation of issues with coaches and a toxic dressing room.
‘Leaks’ often came out to the press detailing criticism aimed at then-manager Ralf Rangnick for his coaching style and tactics. On the whole, the club was not a great place to be.
So, Erik ten Hag is looking to change that. His detailed management approach is reflected in the strict requirements he expects his squad to follow. For instance, The Mirror report that the boss has banned players from taking their phones to squad meals.
Currently, players are constantly dining together during pre-season. The purpose of this is to bring the squad closer together and encourage team bonding.
On the pitch, Ten Hag has the ominous challenge of transforming United’s work ethic. He has taken a different approach than many may expect from modern managers.
Ten Hag makes Man United players do push-ups
One of many criticisms levelled at Man United last season was the lack of intensity from the players. To combat this, Erik ten Hag has added forfeits to inter-squad matches with the intention of firing up the players.
The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell gave fans an insight into this on Twitter. Here, he captured footage showing Man United players doing press-ups during some small-sided games. But why are they doing it?
Apparently, Ten Hag enforces a rule that if a side concedes a goal, they have to complete some push-ups. That is definitely a good reason to put your all into your training.
United’s boss will hope that the desire to avoid extra physical exercise during a gruelling pre-season will ignite a fire in his players that they can carry into 2022/23. After all, last year’s showing was pretty brutal.
Last season’s defensive woes
In 2021/22, the Red Devils conceded their highest-ever goal total since the Premier League began thirty years ago. The ever-rotated back four shipped 57 goals in 38 matches – the eighth-most in the league that season. However, the Man United defence did suffer from injury.
Curiously, if Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane were able to play together more regularly, United could have been much better off. Yahoo sports say that in the 15 matches that the pair played together, the Red Devils conceded less than a goal a game.
If the whole team buys into the intensity change that Ten Hag is trying to instil, maybe United will leak fewer goals.
Ten Hag’s men face their first challenge of pre-season tomorrow, where they play Liverpool in Bangkok.
Featured image credit: Getty
