MX23RW : Tuesday, March 11 06:37:42| >> :120:17792:17792:

Mike Phelan: 'Manchester United injury problems down to Louis van Gaal'

Mike Phelan says that Manchester United's current spate of injuries could be down to the methods employed by manager Louis van Gaal on the training field.

Former Manchester United manager Mike Phelan has questioned the training methods used by manager Louis van Gaal following the club's recent injury crisis.

The Red Devils have been hit by a spate of injuries since the Dutchman took over at Old Trafford, with the likes of Angel di Maria, Radamel Falcao, Michael Carrick and Phil Jones each spending time on the sidelines of late.

Phelan, who last month joined Norwich City as first-team coach, believes that Van Gaal's decision to alter certain training methods could be to blame.

"What's happened is a continuation of the same players getting injured all the time, so you have to look to the reasons why," the 52-year-old told the International Business Times UK. "I think Manchester United changed their thoughts on the fitness regime, they looked at it a little bit differently.

"Tony Strudwick, who was operating as head of sports science, was involved day to day with the first team. He understood the ins and outs of how to keep players fit, how to keep them 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.

"They've brought in new people with a different way of doing things. 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. They seem to get one back and lose another two."

Phelan spent five years alongside Sir Alex Ferguson at United, before leaving his role at the club in 2013.

ID:192829: cacheID:192829:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3161:
Written by
Daniel Lewis
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester United Manager Louis van Gaal gives a thumbs up prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Queens Park Rangers at Old Trafford on September 14, 2014
Read Next:
Van Gaal 'to pull physios from England duty'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool29217169274270
2Arsenal281510352242855
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest28156745331251
4Chelsea28147753361749
5Manchester CityMan City28145953381547
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2814594738947
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton28121064640646
8Aston Villa2912984145-445
9Bournemouth28128847341344
10Fulham2811984138342
11Crystal Palace2810993633339
12Brentford28115124844438
13Tottenham HotspurSpurs281041455411434
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd2897123440-634
15Everton2871293135-433
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2896133248-1633
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2865173857-1923
18Ipswich TownIpswich2838172658-3217
19Leicester CityLeicester2845192562-3717
20Southampton2823232068-489


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!