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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Richard Fay

Erik ten Hag makes promise to change Manchester United fitness levels

Erik ten Hag insists he will be demanding the 'highest standards' possible from Manchester United this summer ahead of his first season in charge of the club.

The Dutchman will take charge of his first United match on Tuesday when United face fierce rivals Liverpool in Bangkok with Ten Hag eager to set a strong example for his debut campaign. United have often been criticised for their poor fitness levels in recent years, and the new manager is eager to change that this summer.

“As always, the highest standards," Ten Hag told official club media. "You expect the max and, of course, there is still always room for improvement because we are in pre-season and we know that but we will play our best and demand the max from the team and the players every day, every training session and every match.”

READ MORE: Pogba appears to refuse to sign United shirt ahead of Juventus medical

When asked how the winter World Cup would affect his side in the upcoming campaign Ten Hag refused to use it as a possible excuse for their fitness levels to dwindle.

He added: “Yeah but it’s not different to another season as it’s always important in pre-season to get the players physically and also mentally fit and to get a team.

"What you are doing, of course, it will improve into the season, but you are setting standards and demands, high standards, make values, making rules, so you get organised to go into the season and it has to go further and further.”

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