Coach Ruben Amorim has maintained a strict training schedule for Manchester United, although the team does not have to participate in European matches and therefore the players' performance is significantly lighter.
Not having to compete in the European Cup in midweek should have given the players more time off training ground, but the Portuguese captain still maintains a working schedule of 6 sessions per week. According to British media, Monday is the only fixed day off, and since the beginning of the season, Amorim has only given the whole team a full break of two days at once.
That shows the determination to get Man United back on track after a disappointing season before. His signature operating system also requires high concentration, as Amorim remains steadfast in his football philosophy - something players must cultivate.
This tight training schedule also shows that Amorim wants his players to always be ready for the day they return to the European arena, an important goal for the team this season.
During a standard working week, the "Red Devils" players will have a day off on Monday before entering heavy training on Tuesday. Wednesday is a session lasting more than two hours, followed by a recovery session on Thursday. Friday is for lighter tactical exercises, while Saturday is the competition day. On Sunday, the whole team returned to the training ground for a fitness recovery.
In an effort to help Man United players understand the tactical requirements, Amorim admitted that he directly put them in positions on the pitch rather than relying only on analysis videos.
"I was a football player. The video is over 12 minutes long? Let go! Because they will lose focus. Instead of showing too many videos, we simulate right on the pitch - walking, jogging - that is the best way to convey ideas" - Amorim said.
Most of Man United's direct competitors have struggled to play in Europe this season. Chelsea, Newcastle, Tottenham, Aston Villa and Liverpool all have to play in midweek, making their match schedules dense and requiring a lot of physical strength. Meanwhile, the "Red Devils" have a big advantage. They have a full break and more time to prepare for the weekend matches.
That could give them an advantage at the end of the season. Man United missed out on a Champions League place after losing to Tottenham in last season's Europa League final. However, according to Amorim's point of view, the team at that time was simply not of good enough class to participate in the most prestigious arena in Europe.
"I think we're not ready to play in Europe. My feeling is that to be able to play well in the Champions League, and at the same time compete in the Premier League, we need more time to develop as a team.
I said last season that we need time to prepare for each match. The games were all very fierce and we had to build a solid enough foundation before thinking about competing on many fronts.
In the future, we have to return to the European arena so that all players have the opportunity to play and mature" - Amorim said at the beginning of the season.
