Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has explained plans for a Spanish training camp next month.
It was confirmed earlier today that we will face La Liga side Cadiz CF on 7 December as part of a week-long stay in the Spanish city. Details of the second fixture are still to be revealed.
“It’s a strange season,” Ten Hag told manutd.com. “It’s not like usual as we have a World Cup but also players will stay behind. We have to train them during those six weeks and we have to give them the right programme so they stay in the right fitness levels, but also they stay in the right shape and also in the team style.
“We made a programme to do that, as optimum as possible. So, we will train here [at Carrington] for one week, or eight or nine days, and then we will have a short break. Then we will train and go to Spain for a training camp for one week.
“There, we can train proper. We have good opponents over there so we can get the game practice in as well. Then we will return, ready for the second stage of the season, I would say, but a long stage, longer than usual.”
In the announcement, United’s football director John Murtough commented: “Erik and the team have made good progress during this first half of the season, and it is important we maintain this momentum coming out of the World Cup break. A winter training camp will be a vital part of the team’s preparations for the second half of the season.
“We have lined up a high-quality local opponent to play against, ensuring match fitness and sharpness is retained. The camp and game will also allow for some of our young talent to experience training and playing in a first team environment, as well as provide entertaining club football for fans.”
