2 years ago
Manchester United players arrived at Carrington Road on Tuesday to meet their new manager, Erik ten Hag. Ten Hag arrived at 8 a.m., two hours before anyone else, but several players tried to impress with 9 a.m. arrivals. David de Gea, Victor Lindelof, and even Anthony Martial arrived early in the parking lot. They were followed by Donny van de Beek, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, and Alejandro Garnacho, who is widely regarded as United's next big thing. Ten Hag, 52, addressed 15 first team and Under-21 squad members before an afternoon training session, which was observed by his new assistants Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McClaren.Ten Hag kept the gates shut and the security tight, but one of my sources said the energy and atmosphere were intense, almost electric, and training sessions with long balls passed from defense and midfield to the frontmen finished around 4 p.m. The contrasts with previous regimes were stark. Ten Hag engages in practice games with eleven players. He pauses play every few minutes to instruct players on how to position themselves and where to focus their attention. Ten Hag has blamed much of United's recent lack of success on player fitness, and he is focusing on it by ordering double training sessions, as well as arranging for all grass to be real and cut to a height of 15mm to allow for fast moving.That necessitates peak fitness and stamina. Dining together is required under the new regime, so players can bond over a meal. Ten Hag had been given files on each player so that he could become completely acquainted with their ability, playing style, and personality before even meeting them. Internationals Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes return next week, and the squad departs for Thailand and Australia on Friday, July 8th.
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Everton manager Frank Lampard was concerned and irritated when he learned that Antonio Conte, who is busy rebuilding his Tottenham squad, is interested in homegrown Evertonian Anthony Gordon. To make matters worse, Tottenham are preparing another bid for Richarlison, a player crucial to Lampard's strategy for the new season. Tottenham wanted Richarlison but refused to meet a £50 million valuation; however, they will return with a higher bid that will include 21-year-old Gordon as part of the deal. Richarlison wants to leave to advance his career, Lampard wants him to stay, and Gordon has become entangled in the saga. Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy and Everton chairman Bill Kenwright dined together.The move of Anthony Gordon to Tottenham was clearly rejected during the meal, but negotiations are still ongoing, and Daniel Levy does not give up easily and is eager to please Conte. Everton must sell someone because they have lost money for the last four seasons, and FA rules require them to operate within their means, so they require incoming funds.
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