It was only a matter of time before we saw evidence of Sir Dave Brailsford’s marginal gains at Manchester United, and the former British Cycling supremo’s fingerprints are all over the measures being taken to help players avoid jet lag and aid their performance in the early stages of the US tour.
United’s physical performance team have prepared a detailed plan so the squad can recover from the 11-hour flight and adapt to the eight-hour time difference as quickly as possible.
When the United contingent arrived at their hotel early on Wednesday evening, they went for dinner and the players were kept up as late as possible before going to sleep.
The United stars are wearing individually tailored compression garments to increase blood circulation after the flight from Manchester to LAX on Wednesday. They have been given designated windows to eat and sleep, with bespoke meals being prepared by chef Omar Meziane and the club’s nutrition team.
A hydration plan is also in place to ensure the players cope with the Californian heat, and training sessions at UCLA have been specifically scheduled so the squad get natural light at the best time of day to avoid jet lag. After landing in LA on Wednesday, United are set to train on Thursday and Friday before playing Arsenal at the SoFi Stadium on Saturday.
Evidence of Sir Dave Brailsford's (right) marginal gains have already been on show as Man United's players look to avoid jet lag in the US
United arrived in the US on Wednesday and will get straight down to training on Thursday
United’s low-key landing
Hysteria often greets United’s arrival on tour, particularly in the Far East, but it’s fair to say Erik ten Hag and his players had a low-key welcome to Los Angeles on Wednesday evening.
Their Virgin Atlantic flight landed at 5.20pm local time at a private terminal at LAX and the squad then got a police escort through the rush hour traffic, arriving at the SLS Beverly Hills Hotel at 6.30pm. Despite the tight security, the only people outside the hotel were a handful of reporters waiting to film United’s arrival.
It was a far cry from the scenes in the Far East, China and Africa in recent years with hundreds of fans turning out to welcome one of the world’s biggest clubs.
One of the advantages of touring the US is the relative anonymity it gives the players, and in the past United have stayed at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel – made famous by the film Pretty Woman – with direct access to Rodeo Drive and the exclusive designer stores.
The SLS Beverly Hills is a luxury five-star hotel but in a less swanky part of town facing a shopping mall – with a nail salon, pharmacy and laundromat – and a car body shop.
It was a low-key arrival for United's stars as they stepped out onto the LA tarmac on Wednesday
LA stay jars with job fears
United's stay in Beverly Hills sits rather awkwardly against the backdrop of job cuts and fear of redundancy they have left behind in Manchester.
Mail Sport revealed earlier this month that long-serving physios Richard Merron and John Davin, who had been at the club for more than two decades, were leaving as part of an overhaul of the medical department.
Now it’s emerged that a number of academy coaches with long associations to United have been told that their jobs are at risk as part of the cost-cutting drive under new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe that will lead to up to 250 job losses.
The coaches were among the staff called into a series of meetings on Tuesday to be told they are under threat from the cuts that could save up to £10m-a-year to invest in the football operation and infrastructure. Staff who were due to travel on tour and now face an uncertain future were informed of the decision last week.
Hollywood star Oldman plans visit
Pre-season trips to Los Angeles always throw up the possibility of celebrity Manchester United fans and Hollywood A-listers popping up in camp, and Gary Oldman is expected to visit Erik ten Hag and his players during their stay here.
The British actor, who won an Oscar for his role as Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour, made an appearance when United stayed in LA in 2017 and 2018. The 66-year-old also turned up at Old Trafford in March to watch the game against Everton.
Julia Roberts is another big United fan who has dropped in to see United in LA in the past, and the Pretty Woman star even made it across to New Jersey before Ten Hag’s side faced Arsenal at the MetLife Stadium a year ago. Work commitments allowing, it would be a surprise if Roberts doesn’t show up this time too.
Oscar winner Gary Oldman (pictured) plans to visit Erik ten Hag and Co during their US tour
Julia Roberts is also a United fan and is likely to see the players if her work commitments allow
Recuperating McClaren stays home
Steve McClaren has stayed behind at Carrington to work with the United players who will return to training too late to join the US tour.
McClaren’s job title has changed from assistant manager to senior first-team coach following the arrivals of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake as Erik ten Hag’s No.2s.
But the former England boss has also recently undergone foot surgery that is hampering his mobility, so it made sense for him to stay in Manchester and work with the players who were involved in the latter stages of Euro 2024 and Copa America.
Captain Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw, Joshua Zirkzee, Lisandro Martinez, Alejandro Garnacho, Facundo Pellistri and Altay Bayindir have all got time off after the tournaments and were not part of the 29-man squad that flew out to LA on Wednesday.
The group will work with McClaren at Carrington although some may join up with the tour in the second week with United treating each on a case by case basis.
Steve McClaren (right) has remained at home to train those players not on the US tour, while he is also recovering from recent foot surgery