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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Steven Railston

Five things spotted in Manchester United training including popular Mitchell van der Gaag myth

Manchester United trained at Carrington on Wednesday morning ahead of flying to Cyprus to play Omonia Nicosia.

United were defeated 6-3 in the Manchester derby at the weekend, but the group appeared in high spirits at Carrington as they look to put that humiliation behind them, with Thursday's match against Omonia in the Europa League now approaching.

Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire did not take part in the training session, while Donny van de Beek and Aaron Wan-Bissaka were also absent. It was later confirmed that all four players are not travelling to Cyrpus to play in the Europa League.

ALSO READ: Manchester United training squad vs Omonia Nicosia

Here are five things the Manchester Evening News spotted at open training at Carrington on Wednesday morning.

Cristiano Ronaldo's reaction

Cristiano Ronaldo has made just one start in the Premier League this season and he was an unused substitute in the Manchester derby. Ten Hag claimed that was 'out of respect' for his career and he was quizzed on Ronaldo again at his press conference.

Ten Hag said: "He’s not happy that he wasn't playing Sunday, don’t get me wrong. The question was about his mood on the training pitch and when he’s around and he’s happy. Of course, he wants to play and he’s p***ed off when he’s not playing. Clear."

Ronaldo was not happy that he was on the bench, but he did appear relaxed and in high spirits at Carrington, just as Ten Hag claimed during his press conference, with the forward spotted laughing and joking with his teammates during the rondos.

Lisandro Martinez was nutmegged by Ronaldo during that drill and the 37-year-old couldn't stop smiling at his misfortune.

The training groups

After speaking to Ten Hag and completing some light running work around the perimeter of the pitch, the players returned to the near side before eventually splitting into two groups, which would signal the start of the rondo training drill.

The two groups were predominantly made up of European players and South American players, who obviously speak Portuguese, although there were exceptions, just like youngster Maximilian Oyedele, who took part with Ronaldo and Co.

Steve McClaren watched the predominantly 'European' group while Benni McCarthy watched the Portuguese speakers.

(Twitter/stevenrailston)

Academy players

Oyedele, Isak Hansen-Aaroen, Toby Collyer and Omari Forson were all involved with first-team training on Wednesday morning. Ten Hag has promised to give young players opportunities if they deserve them and he's stayed true to his word so far.

The Manchester Evening News understands this is not the first time Collyer, 18, has trained with the first-team in recent weeks. The highly-rated teenager has captained England at U16 and U17 level and he signed for United from Brighton in March.

Forson has been in excellent form for the U21s this season and he's impressively contributed four goals and one assist in eight games, which means the forward is Mark Dempsey's top goalscorer in that age group, with Charlie McNeill just behind.

Mitchell van der Gaag myth

Ten Hag's assistant manager Mitchell van der Gaag recently went viral for 'leaving Carrington in a black Lamborghini', but it's understood that vehicle is not actually his, which might disappoint supporters who shared the footage on social media.

The thought of Van der Gaag driving a Lamborghini to training seemed too good to be true and it was. The vehicle is believed to be owned by Robbie Savage, which would explain why it's been spotted at Leigh Sports Village, where Charlie Savage plays for the U21s.

Van der Gaag surely would have chuckled at the footage that claimed it was his Lamborghini.

Steve McClaren role

Steve McClaren and Ten Hag worked together at FC Twente in McClaren's first year in the Netherlands, as he arrived without any of his own coaching staff and Ten Hag remained at the club after working as an assistant under the previous manager.

The pair had a strong relationship at Twente and that's why Ten Hag viewed him as a sensible addition to his backroom staff following his appointment at Old Trafford, given that McClaren has vast experience of the Premier League and English football.

McClaren was animated during the rondo drill and he seemed like a popular figure among the players.

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