Pochettino orders stricter recovery routine at Manchester United
He will require players to report to Carrington for recovery work and plans to bring his son Sebastiano to help with conditioning.
Mauricio Pochettino has been appointed Manchester United's new manager after the club dismissed Michael Carrick, and he has immediately set out to change the team's daily routine.
After ten Premier League matches this season United sat 18th with eight points and a single league win, a start that alarmed both fans and the club hierarchy. One of the issues highlighted was players' physical condition, where United rank poorly in several key metrics.
Pochettino removes the usual post-match day off
The new head coach will end the day-off players traditionally received after matches. Instead, the squad will be required to report to the Carrington training centre the day after games for recovery sessions. The move is intended to improve the team's fitness and to better prepare players for Pochettino's preferred style.
Club data cited by staff show Manchester United currently sit 19th for total distance covered, 17th for high-speed running distance, and 19th for average top speed — figures that prompted the urgent changes.
Pochettino has also told the club he plans to bring his son, Sebastiano, to Manchester to help oversee the fitness programme. Former Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld said players would immediately feel “a different level”, reflecting expectations that the new coaching staff will raise standards quickly.
The new manager will have only a short time to work with the squad before a demanding run of fixtures: United travel to Liverpool at Anfield on 22 November, visit Sporting in the Champions League on 25 November, and then face Brentford at home on 28 November. The opening days under Pochettino should show how fast he can affect the team's form.
Photo: press material from the event
