Erik ten Hag is a man who may need to be approached with caution right now.
The Manchester United manager began this summer determined to build on a promising first campaign in charge, which saw the club capture the League Cup and secure a return to Champions League football. And with his squad in need of reinforcements, coupled with a seemingly imminent takeover, the club were tipped to do big business in the transfer market.
Neither has of yet materialised. With the Glazer family still dithering over the bids of Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and negotiations over a deal for Mason Mount stalling, United fans could soon be bearing the brunt of the Dutchman's frustration.
Ten Hag is planning on kicking off pre-season by putting his squad through a 'hell week', and will ensure that his players won't be suffering from a lack of fitness in 2023/24. According to The Sun, club staff have been ordered to have all facilities at Carrington ready for use by the first week of July.
The former Ajax boss will be back in his office before that, and is reportedly planning four days of intense double training sessions. And for players who have not been on international duty this month, fitness testing will get underway on July 3, exactly a month after United finished the 2022/23 campaign with an FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City.
SAS style training camps have become a growing phenomenon in professional sport, and one source was quoted as saying: “Last summer Erik had players doing press-ups and other fitness forfeits to try and build spirit. This time it sounds like some might actually have their spirits broken!”
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Just nine days after their metaphorical jaunt to hell however, United's players will actually be back in action on the field. Their first pre-season game will take place on July 12 against Leeds in Oslo, followed by a clash with Lyon in Scotland seven days later.
Ten Hag and co will then head to America for a four game tour. The Red Devils will take on Arsenal, Wrexham, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund in games across the US, by which time the manager will want to have new signings on board.
United's pre-season will culminate just a week before the Premier League season begins. They'll take on Athletic Bilbao in Dublin on August 6, before officially kicking off their campaign eight days later by hosting Wolves at Old Trafford.
