Erik ten Hag's laser-like focus and attention to detail has been evident throughout Manchester United's pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia.
On past tours, United's players have been very visible in the places the squad have visited, fulfilling a range of commercial and charitable commitments, but those tasks have been scaled back significantly under ten Hag. United's new boss has insisted that nothing is allowed to get in the way of training and preparation ahead of the new season, with the 52-year-old coach vetoing anything he considers compromises that vision.
Ten Hag put a block on one idea that was floated for MUTV, United’s official television station, to film some of the players on the set of the popular Australian soap opera, Neighbours, which is filmed just outside of Melbourne. As soon as he heard about the proposal, ten Hag stopped it in its tracks. After a 37-year run, Neighbours is coming to an end this month, the show’s final hour-long show due to be broadcast on Australian television on July 28.
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After a day off on Sunday, United’s players were back at training on Monday, with a session at AAMI Park ahead of Tuesday's game against Crystal Palace at the MCG, the third fixture of the tour. Sunday's day off was an opportunity to take a break from ten Hag's intense training sessions and team meetings. Some players opted to go and play golf, while others went shopping.
The squad returned to the five-star W Hotel, where they are staying, later in the day and had dinner together before a big screen was erected to allow them to watch the opening holes of the final round of The Open. The players were in bed and asleep by the time Australia’s Cameron Smith pipped Rory McIlroy to lift Claret Jug, with the final round not concluding until around 4.30am local time.
At the W Hotel, a games room has been constructed for United’s squad to unwind, where the players can play table tennis, pool or FIFA. Goalkeeper David De Gea and midfielder Bruno Fernandes have played table tennis together, while young midfield duo Charlie Savage and Zidane Iqbal have played pool.
