RUBEN AMORIM is considering taking his Manchester United players on a series of in-season bonding trips – to take advantage of their limited schedule.
United’s failure to qualify for Europe, followed by their shock Carabao Cup exit at Grimsby, means the Old Trafford side have just one midweek fixture – the December 3 home game with West Ham – before Christmas.
And Amorim believes it would make sense to make the most of the extra preparation time by building the relationships inside his squad.
With United potentially having eight days between Prem games outside of the three autumn international breaks, Amorim is thinking of short training camps overseas.
The Portuguese manager feels trips to the Algarve or even the Middle East would allow the players to spend more time in each others’ company and strengthen their bonds as part of a unit.
While a final decision has not been taken, the argument is that giving the players a change of scenery rather than spending every training day at their main Carrington base would help galvanise his squad.
Amorim relished the time he spent with his squad in the US this summer, especially when they were at their main Chicago base for the Premier League Summer Series games.
He believed it was a critical part of putting together a group with a genuine desire to perform for each other, with players encouraged to mix under the tutelage of his six-man “leadership team”.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, Argentine Lisandro Martinez, Portugal’s Diogo Dalot, keeper Tom Heaton and Moroccan defender Noussair Mazraoui have been asked to help police the club’s internal code of conduct.
The “rules” have been spelled out and include the behaviour of players whenever they are on club business, with stars encouraged to sign autographs and engage with fans on match-day.
United chiefs have discussed the idea with Amorim and it appears likely that there will be a number of warm weather camps during the season to make the most of the extra time between games.
Suggestions that Amorim was even considering similar breaks during the remaining international breaks in October and November, for the players not playing for their country, have been dismissed.
It is argued that there would be little to gain in terms of bringing the players together with so few of them actually around to be part of the trips.
Where United could go
HERE are a few destinations Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim could take his players to for in-season bonding trips:
Algarve
Amorim would feel at home back in Portugal and plenty of sports teams have used it as a base. The likes of Vilamoura and Quinta do Lago would appeal to any golfers in the squad. But average temperatures are just 16 degrees Celsius in November and down to 14C in December.
La Manga
The Murcia resort, with pitches and two championship golf courses, was the scene of Gazza’s tears and tantrum after being left out of the 1998 World Cup squad and Leicester’s raucous league Cup celebrations two years later. Highs into the low 20s Celsius throughout the autumn would appeal.
Dubai
If it’s summer sun and great facilities you’re after, then the seven-hour flight to the Middle East might be worth it – even if it means going into Manchester City territory. State of the art complexes, complete with Olympic-sized swimming pools. And 31C degrees in November. What’s not to like?
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