According to British media reports, the coaching staff at Manchester United (MU) is urging players to focus on improving their physical and mental well-being in preparation for the upcoming 2023/24 season. Despite not making any new signings this summer, head coach Erik ten Hag believes that the "Red Devils" can still challenge for the Premier League title alongside rivals Manchester City and Arsenal. The first area of improvement Ten Hag is targeting is the players' overall fitness.
The coaching team at MU is planning rigorous training sessions for the pre-season in early July, which some staff members have dubbed "hell week." Ten Hag aims to have four days of intense training, consisting of two sessions per day. The former Ajax coach wants to enhance the players' endurance and ability to handle pressure.
Ten Hag has emphasized the need for all MU players to prepare themselves both physically and mentally during this period. The first training session is scheduled to take place on July 3 at the Carrington Training Centre. This session is specifically for players who did not participate in the recent FIFA Days series earlier this month.
An insider source at MU stated, "Last summer, Ten Hag implemented push-ups and other training movements to build the players' fighting spirit. This time, it seems that some players were taken aback upon hearing about another intense training session."
Lisandro Martinez, the center-back who missed the end of the 2022/23 season due to injury, has returned to training. The former Ajax star shared a picture on social media showing him exercising in the gym alongside MU's assistant coach.
In addition to the demanding training regime, MU is also scheduled for a tour in the United States this summer, marking their return after a five-year absence. The "Red Devils" will face Arsenal, Wrexham, Real Madrid, and Borussia Dortmund during their tour. The final pre-season match will take place on August 6 against Athletic Bilbao.
In terms of transfers, MU has yet to secure any new signings. Their attempts to acquire Mason Mount from Chelsea have been repeatedly rebuffed. Alongside strengthening the midfield, the Old Trafford team is also looking to add a goalkeeper to compete with David de Gea and a top-class striker for the upcoming season.
