Skip to Main NavigationSkip to content
Inside the Reds’ session near Steaua Stadium
Friday 31 January 2025 15:00
Eight of Manchester United’s travelling squad in Romania worked on Friday morning in front of the MUTV cameras.
Head coach Ruben Amorim accompanied the group for the session, on a pitch outside the impressive Steaua Stadium in the capital, and kept a close eye on proceedings.
The boss started by viewing from high up on a gantry, before heading down to behind one of the goals for the latter part of training.
Friday in Bucharest
Gallery
Ruben’s Reds began preparations for our weekend clash with Crystal Palace from the Romanian capital.
The three goalkeepers were present, although Altay Bayindir, who played the full 90 minutes and kept a clean sheet against FCSB, trained primarily with goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital, while Andre Onana and Tom Heaton worked with Craig Mawson and took part in the main drills.
These consisted of various elements, including sprints towards the start.
Casemiro, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Manuel Ugarte and Leny Yoro were the outfield players involved and managed to handle the passing drills, expertly handling any that skipped up off the surface, with Yoro showing great dexterity on a couple of occasions to stoop and manufacture an improvised chest pass instead.
A short pitch was set up with full-size goals to accommodate an exhausting end-to-end drill which provided no let up. Crosses rained in from both flanks, with the players in the middle competing to attack or defend them, before turning to sprint to the other goal to do the same.
Things changed to attack versus defence, with the defenders able to show their shooting talents in this scenario, working the opening and keeping Onana busy. The competitive nature was maintained and there was some real sharp shooting on view.
As the session wound down with more shooting practice, Lindelof smashed one home after a drive struck so firmly by Casemiro that it generated ooohs from the assembled crowd as it cannoned off the woodwork.
The great Gheorghe Hagi is one of the players on show at the Steaua Stadium.
A broad smile by Amorim upon its conclusion suggested everyone was happy that it had the desired effect, with the priority being to prepare these players for Sunday’s match against Crystal Palace.
With the exertions completed, rest and recuperation on the flight back to Manchester will be next on the agenda, when linking up with those in the gym back at the city-centre hotel.
It’s been a case of job done for the Reds, in terms of winning a third match in a row and qualifying for the last 16 of the Europa League. There is no doubt much organisation goes into sessions like these on the Friday so the hard work helps ensure the maximum benefit in terms of fitness.
It’s an imperative given the demands of the Premier League and helps the club navigate the schedule at home and abroad.
Recommended:
Friday 31 January 2025 15:00
Back to Top
