New Delhi: Manchester United travel to North London to take on fellow Premier League strugglers Tottenham Hotspur in a crucial fixture for both these sides. The Red Devils sit 14th in the league table whereas Spurs occupy the spot just behind them in 15th and the pressure in on both managers to deliver results. Following Spurs’ exist from both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup in successive matches recently, the pressure is increasing on manager Ange Postecoglou to deliver in this crunch tie.
United were humbled 3-0 at home in the reverse fixture and will be out for revenge in this clash but are expected to be without four of their first team stars. Arguably the club’s best player this season, Amad Diallo, suffered an ankle injury in training earlier in the week and he is now set to miss the remainder of the season as he’s due surgery on the ankle next week. In addition to losing Diallo, the club is also reported to be without key midfield trio.
🚨⚠️ Amad Diallo set to miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury, confirmed.
Man United star suffered the injury earlier this week, as @ChrisWheelerDM reports — he’s expected to be unavailable for the next 3 months.
Big blow for United and Rúben Amorim. pic.twitter.com/QYqZpRoIUN
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 15, 2025
Kobbie Mainoo has been ruled out with an injury of his own and is expected to be out for upto three weeks, while both Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer are also in line to miss the Spurs clash. The severity of their injuries hasn’t been confirmed but the squad has suffered due to these four injuries being picked up in training and not on field. With their season already in turmoil, losing some of their best players of the campaign comes as a huge blow.
Injuries to these four first team stars add to the club’s ever growing injury list as Lisandro Martinez was ruled out for the rest of the season earlier this month. Left back Luke Shaw, who recovered from an injury towards the end of 2024, suffered another set back shortly after coming back. The Englishman recently returned to training after recovering but again injured himself in training earlier in the month, adding to his injury woes. Mason Mount also has spent the majority of the season in the dressing room and hasn’t returned to the first team yet. All these instances are raising questions about head coach Ruben Amorim’s training methods.
Is Ruben Amorim’s training too harsh?
Ruben Amorim’s arrival at Manchester United was supposed to usher in a new era of discipline, tactical structure, and high-intensity football. However, reports emerging from the club suggest that his rigorous training methods might be taking a toll on the squad, with injuries piling up and key players struggling to keep up with his demands. From the moment he set foot in Carrington, Amorim has been clear about his expectations when it comes to training with the head coach demanding intensity, discipline, and an unwavering work ethic.
Leny Yoro recently opened up about the manager’s strict methods, emphasizing that he has “little tolerance for laziness” and that he demands full commitment in every session. The young defender even jokingly said, “If you are not working, if you are lazy in training, he won’t like you—he’ll kill you!” This relentless approach is in line with Amorim’s reputation at Sporting CP, where he was known for pushing his players to their limits.
🔴 Leny Yoro: “For Amorim, you’ve to be disciplined outside the pitch and train hard”.
“The training is very important. If you don’t work, if you’re lazy in training, he won’t like you, he’ll kill you. It’s normal because, yes, we play the way we train”, told @FiveUk. pic.twitter.com/csArQmqh4A
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 6, 2025
He has been known for implementing high-intensity drills that mimicked real-game scenarios with his belief being simple, “You play the game like you train.” However, adapting to this philosophy has not been easy for United’s squad, with some players struggling to cope with the increased physical demands and United’s current injury crisis seems to be somewhat affected by that.
There is no denying that Amorim’s approach has its merits. Discipline and fitness are key components of a successful footballing philosophy, and many top managers, including Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp, have similar demands. However, the challenge lies in implementing such methods gradually, especially in a squad that may not be physically prepared for such a drastic shift.
Is the Injury Crisis at United a Direct Consequence?
Since Amorim’s appointment, United’s injury list has grown alarmingly. Players like Lisandro Martínez, Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, and Toby Collyer have all suffered setbacks in recent weeks. While injuries are part and parcel of football, the sheer number of absentees has led to questions about whether Amorim’s training methods are pushing players too far.
Reports from The Sun indicate that Amorim was left stunned by the lack of intensity in his first few training sessions, prompting him to ramp up the workload. But is this sudden shift in intensity overwhelming players who are not accustomed to such demands? High-intensity training, when not managed properly, can lead to muscle fatigue, overuse injuries, and increased susceptibility to long-term fitness issues.
🚨🚨| Manchester United’s current injury list:
❌ Amad (ankle)
❌ Lisandro Martinez (knee)
❌ Manuel Ugarte (unknown)
❌ Kobbie Mainoo (unknown)
❌ Toby Collyer (unknown)
❌ Luke Shaw (unknown)
❌ Mason Mount (thigh)
❌ Altay Bayindir (unknown)
❌ Jonny Evans (back) pic.twitter.com/xYGzemRskV— centredevils. (@centredevils) February 15, 2025
United’s medical team will undoubtedly be monitoring the situation, but with fixtures coming thick and fast, the concern is that Amorim’s strict regimen might be causing more harm than good. United suffered an alarmingly high 60+ injuries last season which led to the club’s worst ever league finish and brought in Gary O’Driscoll as head of medicine from Arsenal in the summer to tackle the issue but it doesn’t seem to have helped the club till now.
The departure of Marcus Rashford to Aston Villa was reportedly influenced by his struggles to meet Amorim’s training expectations, further highlighting the manager’s intolerance for any drop in standards. While Amorim’s intent is clear, it remains to be seen whether his methods will yield long-term benefits or simply wear his squad down. For now, United fans will be hoping that the manager finds the right balance between intensity and player welfare. Otherwise, his strict regime may backfire, leaving the squad depleted at a crucial point in the season.
Manchester United have been hit with a massive injury bug this last week as the club have suffered four injuries in training which begs the question if Ruben Amorim’s training regime too intense? Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
