ERIK’S TRAIN OF THOUGHT

CHELSEA v MAN UTD United boss takes swipe at international teams POCH CALLS ON BLUES TO SNAP OUT OF STUPOR

ERIK TEN HAG has told his Manchester United players they must be tough enough to withstand the rigours of the Premier League – and denied he trains them too hard.

United’s push for a Champions League place has been sabotaged by the enforced loss of players, with more than 50 separate injuries sustained throughout the campaign.

One reason put forward for United’s chronic injury list, which currently includes Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, Tyrell Malacia, Anthony Martial and Altay Bayindir, is the intensity of training under Ten Hag.

But the Dutchman rejected the claim, insisting: “No, we don’t train too hard. We need to be fit.

“With the standards in this league, you need to be fit, otherwise you can’t match the standards required of you in a game. We don’t train too hard.

“We have good departments, we have good people around with a lot of knowledge. Based on data we make our decisions.

“You need very robust players. That is the requirement, when you go into Christmas with many injuries and then you have to bring them back.

“But when they are free from injury, they are not match-fit. They’re not straight back into the form that also needs a couple of games before you get back into the rhythm.”

Example

United skipper Bruno Fernandes has not missed a game through injury this season, playing through the pain barrier and always making himself available.

Ten Hag hailed his captain as the example for players to follow, but said there are others within his squad who are just as tough, both physically and mentally. players who are very robust like Bruno is,” said Ten Hag. “But that is the type of player you need, yeah.”

Ten Hag suggested fixture overload was to blame for some injuries this season, although United have played 13 games in 2024, compared to 22 at this stage last season. point where we demand what we want from our top players.

“You saw last weekend, Manchester City were playing without Kyle Walker, without John Stones. The levels were dropping without them.

MAURICIO Pochettino has warned his Chelsea flops to snap out of their comfort zone.

The Blues host Manchester United languishing in 12th place after a dismal 2-2 draw at home to 10-man Burnley.

And Pochettino admits he has major concerns over some of his young and expensively-assembled squad thinking they have already made it.

Asked if he was worried his players are in their comfort zone, he said: “Yes. I agree. I am going to explain what I explained to them.

“When I was at Espanyol, my first experience as a coach, I was at the training ground at 7am every morning.

“Then

Southampton, Tottenham,

Paris. The same.

And now? At 6.30 we are here. You can ask security. It’s not going to change.

Money

“After 15 years you can increase your bank account and your money.

“But that cannot put me in a comfortable zone so that now I arrive at 9 and leave at 2.

“I need to keep pushing myself, my team, my staff. Because we want to win.

“If I move to another club from one where there was less money, where no-one was expecting anything from me, and now I arrive here but I feel the pressure, what am I going to do?

“Arrive early. Work harder. Run more. Be more concentrated. It is not now arrive at Chelsea and think that I am so good that I can do the minimum effort.

“No, there is more responsibility now. For us we feel the responsibility. Never be in a comfort zone.

“If you are in a comfort zone, you drop your level, you drop your standards. I don’t say that happened here because too many other things happened.

“But that is one of the things that we are aware of. Maybe it is a mix. Like when you mix this a little bit, a small percentage, easy life, easy that … then when you put it all together, it is not easy.

Build

“To prepare yourself to win every single game, you need to be mature. That is why we are in the process to build something.

“That is why we are not winning in the way we expect. It is because we still need to create this mentality that is going to help us. You need to demand more from yourself and your team-mate. And then be strong.”

Pochettino also defended skipper

Conor Gallagher after he was abused online for a video clip, which showed him failing to acknowledge a high five from a young black mascot before the Burnley game.

He said: “I know Conor. He is a great great kid. There was no intention.

“That has upset me so much because no-one wants to do something like this with this intention.

“When you are focused on playing and too many things that sometimes can happen.

“We give too much attention to these people who like to insult and create a mess. Please stop.

“Who thinks that the intention of Conor is to ignore a mascot? Come on.”