Ruben Amorim introduces new Man Utd rule that’s had immediate impact in training

As Ruben Amorim continues his quest to breathe new life into Manchester United, a new rule he has introduced to pre-season training appears to be having an effect

Ruben Amorim has introduced a new rule to training at Manchester United – the losers pick up ALL the equipment used that day.

The Portuguese manager’s debut campaign after taking over from Erik ten Hag last November proved to be a disaster. However, things have been looking up for him in pre-season, with United winning the Premier League Summer Series in the USA. They recorded victories over West Ham United and Bournemouth, while also drawing 2-2 with Everton.

Amorim has been cutting no corners in his quest to transform United, who were so often criticised last season. One of his methods has been bringing a competitive edge to training drills, to introduce a more intense environment. And one key factor has been the use of forfeits for losing teams, which normally involves requiring them to pick up the equipment from the day’s training.

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United young star Toby Collyer has commented specifically on the rule, telling The Athletic: “Everyone wants to be the team that wins. You don’t have to get the gear in then. It’s a jeopardy if you lose! All the other teams have to get the gear in.”

Right-back Diogo Dalot also discussed how the standards in pre-season have been raised compared to last term. The Portugal international said: “If you want to be in Manchester United, you need to match some standards. If you can’t match them, it’s not a place for you. The message is really clear.”

It comes alongside Amorim’s work to enhance his players’ understanding of his preferred 3-4-3 formation. The United boss refused to budge from his favourite set-up last term, even when the team’s form was at its lowest. And now he is doubling down.

He sets out his defenders in his preferred back five, with substitute defenders standing behind his starters as he shifts them left and right by kicking the ball into a particular area of the pitch. It can be a time-consuming and laborious process, but Amorim is fully focused on the details.

Another area of the pitch where United were regularly outclassed was in midfield. This season, Amorim believes his players will be able to dominate the middle of the park.

When asked why he is feeling so confident, he said: “I think it’s the time to train. Even the certainty of the movements can help a player to be faster, if you are thinking, ‘I jump, I don’t jump.’

“We train when they need to jump; they already know. Sometimes it’s one metre, one second. That is something that the tactical aspect and the physical aspect are together.”

United face an ominous start to the new Premier League campaign. On the first day of the season, they host title-chasing Arsenal at Old Trafford before a difficult trip to Fulham the following week.

A home clash against newly promoted Burnley is swiftly followed by an away clash against Manchester City and then another home match against Chelsea. These games will be the biggest test of whether Amorim’s methods have been absorbed by his players.

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