Since Ruben Amorim’s appointment at Manchester United in November, the club’s performance has been under scrutiny.
While there have been some positive signs in recent weeks—three victories in the last four games—the Red Devils find themselves stuck in 12th place in the Premier League, with 12 points separating them from the top four.
Amorim’s start has been far from smooth, winning just seven out of his first 17 matches in charge.
Fitness Concerns Prompt Major Change
Amorim hasn’t held back in expressing his frustration with his team’s fitness levels.
In fact, the 40-year-old manager recently called his squad “maybe the worst” in the club’s history, citing concerns about their work rate and even their body-fat levels.
To address these issues head-on, Amorim has enlisted the help of a world-leading athletics coach.
Legendary Athletics Coach Harry Marra Joins the United Staff
In a bid to boost the team’s fitness, Manchester United has brought in Harry Marra, a renowned Olympic athletics coach.
Marra, who previously coached American decathlete Ashton Eaton to two Olympic gold medals, was named World Athletics Coach of the Year in 2016.
The 78-year-old Marra has also worked with MLB’s San Francisco Giants as a fitness consultant and has guided numerous other top athletes to success.
He is now working alongside United’s fitness and sports science staff for a brief period, bringing decades of expertise to help improve the team’s conditioning.
The club’s management is excited to have such a seasoned professional on board, especially given Marra’s successful track record with athletes like Eaton, who has set world records and earned five world titles.
A Pattern of Seeking Expertise Across Multiple Fields
Marra’s appointment is part of a broader trend at Manchester United of seeking advice from highly respected figures across various disciplines.
This season, the club has already hosted expert-led events focusing on injury management, strength training, and nutrition.
By tapping into the knowledge of these specialists, United hopes to enhance its staff’s overall development and improve the team’s performance on the pitch.
Amorim’s Focus on the ‘Small Things’
Back in November, Amorim had already pinpointed fitness as a major area for improvement.
While addressing the team’s challenges, he emphasized the importance of refining the “small things” in their play.
Amorim has been clear that keeping possession, improving defensive work, and focusing on the finer details of their tactics will be key to improving their results.
Looking ahead, Manchester United’s next challenge comes on Thursday when they travel to Romania to face FCSB (Steaua Bucharest) in the Europa League.
A win will secure their automatic progression to the last-16, giving the team a much-needed boost as they look to turn their season around.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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