Erik ten Hag has already identified the conditioning of ’s players as an area of concern and wants to bring ’s fitness coach with him to Old Trafford, according to reports.
The Dutch coach is set to be appointed as United’s new manager imminently, having impressed the club’s hierarchy in a series of interviews to beat off competition from the likes of and Luis Enrique.
He is already believed to have discussed details such as the transfer budget at his disposal and the make-up of his backroom team, with United keen to back the new man this summer.
In addition to bringing Ajax assistant Mitchell van der Gaag with him to Old Trafford, Ten Hag is also keen to have a coach with both experience of the Premier League and ties to United on his staff.
Ten Hag’s compatriots Jaap Stam and Robin van Persie, both of whom played for United, have been linked with the role, while Steve McClaren – who coached at the club under Sir Alex Ferguson – has to be part of the new-look backroom team.
McClaren was actually head coach of FC Twente when Ten Hag was one of his coaches – and that may not be where the reunion ends.
According to , Ten Hag wants to bring another member of that old Twente coaching setup to Manchester in the form of current Ajax head of performance Alessandro Schoenmaker.
Ten Hag has pinpointed the physical conditioning and fitness of United’s players as something that needs to be addressed, particularly given that he wants to play high-tempo, high-pressing football.
Schoenmaker – who was at Twente while Ten Hag was also there – has become a trusted part of the Dutchman’s set-up at Ajax and is highly rated at injury prevention and sports science.
He also knows the demands and rigours of English football well, having worked at Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Derby County – he was appointed to the latter role while McClaren was in charge of the club.
In his role at Derby, Schoenmaker oversaw the fitness, strength and conditioning of the club’s players as Head of Sports Science, while during his time at Palace and Newcastle he was credited with reducing the number of soft tissue injuries.
United will have to pay a small compensation fee for Schoenmaker, but Ten Hag feels he is a key part of his intended rebuild at Old Trafford and he fits the profile of coach he is looking to recruit.
The 52-year-old believes United have lacked the physicality the Premier League demands and wants to get his squad in peak condition to challenge next season, while his transfer targets will also have to be able to stand up to the physical battles of English football.
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