Team-bonding break can make us united, says Tannadice boss

Laszlo uses trip to the Highlands to help players get to know each other

Manager Csaba Laszlo is hoping their Highland fling can help unite Dundee United.

The Tangerines travelled north to Aviemore last week to do some team bonding rather than take in the bonnie views.

He wanted all his new faces to get to know each other better in order to kick on from a win over Queen of the South that eased some of the pressure on Laszlo.

The Hungarian would rather have played a match right after that Palmerston victory but he still feels the getaway was just what United needed ahead of Saturday’s home game against Partick Thistle.

He said: “After winning away from home I would have preferred to have another game, but we had the break instead.

“Going up to Aviemore allowed the team to get together and we do have a lot of new faces.

“The boys have to have the feeling that we can build a team together.

“I have tried this idea before and it is not new for me.

“The important thing is the boys get to know each other really well and this is a way of doing that.

“The League Cup (Betfred) doesn’t give you the chance to have a pre-season because you have to play competitive games. You can’t even use trialists and you only get three substitutions.

“It can’t be like a normal pre-season so we are now using our time wisely.”

Meanwhile, United will host local cancer support network CANDU at the Thistle game.

The players will warm up in CANDU T-shirts to help raise awareness of the new, patient-led charity and supporters can pick up information leaflets and speak with CANDU volunteers in the concourses pre-match.

The group promotes awareness of support services and works closely with network partners – including NHS Tayside, Macmillan Cancer Support, The Scottish Cancer Prevention Network, Maggie’s Dundee and the Scottish Health Council – to develop new projects and activities which encourage compassionate and caring approaches within cancer support.

The boys have to have the feeling that we can build a team together. CSABA LASZLO

Picture: SNS. Dundee United manager Csaba Laszlo took his players to Aviemore for a getaway.