MX23RW : Tuesday, November 5 19:54:21| >> :60:1493:1493:

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:
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
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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!