Erik ten Hag is partial to an espresso before his press conferences at Carrington and Manchester United's recent schedule has been so relentless caffeine is an essential stimulant
To compound the Thursday-Sunday schedule of the Europa League, the Premier League have saddled United with four Thursday night kick-offs. United's third round League Cup tie was also played on a Thursday.
United are not impressed by avoidable Thursday-Sunday weeks but their record on the Sunday after Thursday fixtures reads won nine, drawn three and lost two. Ten Hag seldom apportions the blame for defeats on external factors and it would be out of character for him to lament the Thursday slots.
