Here we go again. Manchester United’s pre-season plans for 2024 are gathering pace and it looks like we are in for a repeat of 2023.
Christian Eriksen was one Manchester United player to vocalise his unhappiness with the team’s pre-season schedule last summer. And whether the Dane is even at the club or not this coming summer is not the point, many players are in for a repeat.
Last summer Manchester United played eight matches in a tightly packed schedule, in Norway, Scotland, USA, Ireland and back at Old Trafford. The three games in America all took place in different cities.
United landed up kicking off the season with two talented prospects out injured as a result of knocks suffered on tour, with both Kobbie Mainoo and Amad missing several months.
In isolation, unfortunate. But these preceded a succession of injuries which quickly lurched from ‘unlucky’ into ‘crisis’, which the team are yet to really recover from.
You would hope that lessons have been learned, and a simpler pre-season schedule would be arranged for 2024. No such luck.
Manchester United set packed 2024 tour schedule
Manchester United have reviewed the 2023 schedule and decided, ‘let’s do exactly the same thing again’.
This week the club announced a pre-season friendly in Norway against Rosenborg for July 15.
Five days later the team are back in Scotland to face Rangers, before flying to USA for three games. All games in the US are in different states, with two on the west coast and one on the east coast.
And there is no chance the team are done there. There will be the usual Old Trafford friendly, yet to be announced, and probably another too.
- Monday, 15th July 2024: Manchester United vs Rosenborg at the Lerkendol Stadion, Norway
- Saturday, July 20th 2024: Manchester United vs Rangers at the Murrayfield, Edinburgh
- Saturday, July 27th 2024: Manchester United vs Arsenal at the SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
- Wednesday, July 31 2024: Manchester United vs Real Betis at the Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego
- Saturday, August 3rd 2024: Manchester United vs Liverpool at the University of South Carolina’s (USC) William Brice Stadium
We understand the tour is a money-spinner, and a welcome chance for fans across the globe to see the team, which we would not begrudge. But if that leads to another season like this one, nobody will feel it is a fair trade-off.
United may need the money if we fail to reach the Champions League. Money-hungry turns money-needy. And suddenly we are trapped in a vicious cycle.
- READ MORE: Manchester United Player Wages 2023/24
Summer tournaments make schedule even more challenging
Manchester United’s pre-season schedule becomes even more challenging when bearing in mind this is a summer tournament year.
The Euro 2024 final takes place on Sunday July 14. One day before Manchester United’s opening pre-season game.
The Copa America final is also held the same day. United’s Argentine and Brazilian stars could be involved.
Even skipping the games in Norway and Scotland, there are just 12 days between the continental finals and the first match in the US.
United players and new signings who play at the tournament will get very limited recovery time, and no time to switch off mentally, with several of their teammates already back.
The flip-side of all this means younger players will get the opportunity to shine, but this feels like the wrong summer to embark on a hectic overseas tour, especially after last year.
What do we want instead? How about set up in Scandinavia for a low-key camp, playing five games against different opponents, all in one city, with no travel time.
Less lucrative, sure. But far more sensible and better on the staff and players for the 2024/25 season, which is ultimately what matters.
Ineos may be in charge of football matters, but Manchester United’s commercial machine is still turning the wheels relentlessly, and at the moment, it feels like we are setting up for another tough campaign next year.
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