FIT OF ALL RIGHT Ole boys in top shape after boot camp pain

MANCHESTER UNITED’S players are finally fit for purpose after boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s pre-season boot camp.

United faded towards the end of last season, taking just eight points from their final nine games. Solskjaer was convinced that was down to a lack of fitness and an inability to sustain the high pressing style of play he wants. But after a pre-season in which he put his squad through exhausting double sessions every day, Solskjaer’s regime appears to have paid off. Stats from Sunday’s 4-0 win over Chelsea showed United covered 67.03 miles in the match, compared to Chelsea’s 66.25 miles.

The United boss (below) felt Sunday’s win justified his stance, further reinforced by Paul Pogba’s lung-busting run to set up Daniel James for the fourth goal in the 81st minute.

“We are fitter, we’re stronger,” said Solskjaer. “You could see in the second half that we’re more than capable of lasting games.” Striker Marcus Rashford, who scored twice in the victory, said the hard graft had paid off. “That’s something all around the squad,” said Rashford.

“I think every single player has got fitter over pre-season and that’s the ideal situation.

“That’s the perfect way you want to start the season. But there are more things we can do to complement the hard work.

“It’s a good start to the season but we can still see the areas that we can improve.

“This year has been 10 times better. As a group, we look more able to press without the ball and we look stronger and fitter for it.

“It’s been a lot more difficult but at the same time the workload and recovery has been managed better, so everyone is feeling good.”

Rashford also praised the United maintained their efforts. He said: “The intensity was top notch. We kept making runs and when we lost the ball we tried to win it back. “There were a lot of things we can improve on for the season. But that is the position you want to be in.” way