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Manchester United: Van Gaal fitness changes queried by Phelan
Marcus2011 10 years ago Edited
Chelsea FC, England 277 6501

Former Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan says the new approach to fitness under Louis van Gaal could be the reason for the club's injury crisis.

United have suffered 43 injuries in five months, and Phelan has questioned the change in role for fitness coach Tony Strudwick.He said: "They've brought in new people with a different way of doing things."Tony understood the ins and outs of how to keep players fit."The 52-year-old served on Sir Alex Ferguson's coaching staff for five years, winning five Premier League titles at United as player and assistant manager.

Now first-team coach at Norwich City, he has suggested the intensity of Van Gaal's training regime may have exacerbated an injury crisis that has seen players such as Michael Carrick, Phil Jones, Rafael and and Radamel Falcao face lengthy spells out.

Phelan told the International Business Times: "The intensity of training may be one thing - it may be too intense, or not intense enough - but obviously slight changes have been made with the present way of doing things.

"What's happened is a continuation of the same players getting injured all the time, so you have to look to the reasons why. I think Manchester United changed their thoughts on the fitness regime, they looked at it a bit differently."

He pointed to Van Gaal's decision to relieve fitness coach Strudwick of direct responsibility for the first team in favour of a more general role as a key factor.

"Tony Strudwick, who was operating as head of sports science, was involved day to day with the first team.

"He understood how to keep players ready for competition. Then suddenly they moved him sideways and did something completely different. That may have had an effect. That one area has changed."

BBC Sports

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Showing previous versions of this text.

Former Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan says the new approach to fitness under Louis van Gaal could be the reason for the club's injury crisis.

United have suffered 43 injuries in five months, and Phelan has questioned the change in role for fitness coach Tony Strudwick.

He said: "They've brought in new people with a different way of doing things.

"Tony understood the ins and outs of how to keep players fit."

The 52-year-old served on Sir Alex Ferguson's coaching staff for five years, winning five Premier League titles at United as player and assistant manager.

Now first-team coach at Norwich City, he has suggested the intensity of Van Gaal's training regime may have exacerbated an injury crisis that has seen players such as Michael Carrick, Phil Jones, Rafael and and Radamel Falcao face lengthy spells out.

Phelan told the International Business Times: "The intensity of training may be one thing - it may be too intense, or not intense enough - but obviously slight changes have been made with the present way of doing things.

"What's happened is a continuation of the same players getting injured all the time, so you have to look to the reasons why. I think Manchester United changed their thoughts on the fitness regime, they looked at it a bit differently."

He pointed to Van Gaal's decision to relieve fitness coach Strudwick of direct responsibility for the first team in favour of a more general role as a key factor.

"Tony Strudwick, who was operating as head of sports science, was involved day to day with the first team.

"He understood how to keep players ready for competition. Then suddenly they moved him sideways and did something completely different. That may have had an effect. That one area has changed."

Comments
ashwin1729 10 years ago
Manchester United, England 10 705

Carrick had a surgery done. Nothing to with LVG. Infact he recovered quicker than expected. Rafael and Jones have always been injury prone. Nothing to do with LVG either.
Most of the injuries our players have suffered have been on field incidents. You can not blame a coach for this.

However, I will say that LVG's methods in training the players after an injury is a little debatable. It is good in that he is trying to ensure players will be completely fit when they play their next game. It will also ensure that players will not be easily tired and less likely to get injured. However, he is also running the risk of over training them, and in the process exacerbate their current problem. Its a double edged sword. But it will pay dividends in the long run.

People who have not played soccer or another competitive game will not understand this.

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man_utd 10 years ago
Manchester United, South Korea 91 1444

Phelan doesn't know what he's talking about

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TheGame 10 years ago
Manchester United 104 1380

LVG has years and years of experience as a coach. A shift in training methods take time getting used to, but I guarantee that everyone will be fit and ready to go soon. Even with the injury crisis, it should be noted that LVG has us going on a 5-game winning streak in arguably the hardest month in the PL.

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Marcus2011 10 years ago Edited
Chelsea FC, England 277 6501

UNITED 47 INJURIES BROKEN DOWN up to date
14 - during training
18 - during Premier League match
1 - during Capital One Cup
2 - during Under-21 match
7 - while on international duty
4 - during pre-season match
1 - other

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  • History
Showing previous versions of this text.

UNITED 47 INJURIES BROKEN DOWN up to date

14 - during training

18 - during Premier League match

1 - during Capital One Cup

2 - during Under-21 match

7 - while on international duty

4 - during pre-season match

1 - other

Tuanis 10 years ago
Manchester United, England 87 2311

There is no way to know for sure if it is LWGs fault. If the injuries ocurre during training or during a match doesn't mean anything. Both could or could not be because of the "new fitness approach". The fact is that we have had record amount of injuries this season and they coincide with LVGs arrival to the club...

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