Ten Hag orders Man Utd flops to return to pre-season training two weeks early

Erik ten Hag has reportedly ordered Manchester United's flops to report back for pre-season training two weeks earlier than originally planned.

The incoming United boss ten Hag, who will take over the reins this summer, believes the squad he is inheriting will need an extra two weeks of rigorous fitness work to ensure they are in the condition to play the style of football he demands.

The Red Devils players were due to be back in for pre-season training on July, 4, but is now understood ten Hag wants his players to report back on June, 20 to get them in shape ahead of the start of the Premier League.

The current Ajax manager has watched the last few United games remotely and is said to be unimpressed by the fitness levels of the squad, according to The Mirror.

The Dutchman believes many of the poor performances and results United have suffered this season could be down to their poor fitness levels and is something he is keen to correct.

The 52-year-old much like most top modern managers likes to play a pressing game, which requires peak fitness to maintain the energy and running levels needed for 90 minutes.

Ten Hag is set to begin meeting players via Zoom calls this week after potentially guiding Ajax to a third consecutive Dutch Eredivisie title on Wednesday.

If they do return in June, the squad will be involved in just under three weeks of training in Manchester before heading on United's pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia.

Ten Hag's first game in charge will be against Liverpool at Bangkok's Rajamangala National Stadium.

It is still a huge question mark over who will be reporting to the first day of pre-season training with players out of contract, plenty of stars wanting out, and whether ten Hag can bring in reinforcements by that stage.

Since the new manager's announcement the Red Devils have been heavily linked with a whole host of players, but it will be a question of ten Hag assessing what he actually needs in the coming weeks.

United, however, have just one match left to play under interim boss Ralf Rangnick, but focus seems to have already switched to next season, with a top four finish now impossible.