Manchester United players are concerned about one Erik ten Hag demand, it has been claimed.
United are licking their wounds after a bruising 3-1 defeat to local rivals Manchester City on Sunday.
Ten Hag’s men took an early lead through a Marcus Rashford wonder strike, only for a second-half brace from Phil Foden and a goal from Erling Haaland to see City claim all three points.
Since the defeat, it has emerged in the Manchester Evening News that a minority of United players are concerned about the running demands from Ten Hag.
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The publication claims that some players believe the intensity is too taxing after United's 62-game season last year.
Such workload is reportedly thought by some to have contributed to the club’s injury toll, with United having endured 47 separate cases of injury and illness that have led to a player missing a game.
Some nine players were absent for the Manchester derby loss on Sunday. Indeed, Diogo Dalot, Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho are the only outfield players who have avoided an injury lay-off so far this season.
Ten Hag admitted that the withdrawals of Jonny Evans and Marcus Rashford against City were both enforced.
The Dutchman said: "I had to take them both off. They fought to be part of this game but after 60 or 70 minutes we had to take them off and sub them.
"We're working on players returning and I think players will return in the coming weeks, especially after the international break.
“Hopefully Jonny Evans and Marcus Rashford are not too bad, that they recover and we can use them in the next game against Everton."
Ten Hag gave United players Monday and Friday off last week, having played Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup fifth round just four days before the derby.
United played six games in February, with each Premier League fixture coming with a free midweek.
Topics: Manchester United, Erik Ten Hag, Manchester City, Marcus Rashford, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland
Chris Byfield