Starting with saving Manchester United

Over the years, healthy eating and scientific training have gradually become trends in European football.

European clubs typically require players to have at least two meals a day at the training ground.

The advantage of this is that the club can monitor the players' diet to ensure it is balanced and nutritious.

It usually consists of breakfast and lunch.

Around 9 a.m., Manchester United players began to arrive at Carrington.

After changing clothes and having breakfast, the players conducted activation training indoors.

The injured should receive supplementary physical therapy in advance.

At 10:00 AM sharp, when the players walked out of the training building, through the first team's private parking lot on the south side of the training building, and arrived at the training field, Yang Fan and the coaching staff were already ready.

Since there were no assistant coaches, this recovery training session was led by strength and conditioning manager, George Hawkins.

Yang Fan didn't say a word from beginning to end, and stood quietly on the sidelines watching the whole time.

Manchester United's success during the Ferguson era was undeniable.

Even in recent years, when Manchester United has reduced its investment due to debt, its performance has remained outstanding.

The 08 Champions League champions, and two Champions League finalists in 09 and 11, who lost to Barcelona but were still honorable.

And last season's Premier League title.

Behind all the success, besides Ferguson's admirable coaching skills, is the elite team behind Manchester United.

Putting everything else aside, the physical training team led by Richard Hawkins that Yang Fan saw in front of him was practically a Whampoa Military Academy.

Richard Hawkins, needless to say, served as the deputy head of the FA's sports science department since the 90s, and was poached by Ferguson in 08 with a hefty sum and given important responsibilities.

Tony Stradwick, a key assistant, studied at Loughborough University and John Moores College in Liverpool, holding double doctorates in philosophy and physiology. He also worked in the sports science department of the FA before joining Manchester United in 07, where he enjoyed Ferguson's trust.

If the two people mentioned above are giants in the field of physical training and sports science in England, then the following three are the future leaders.

Marcelo Ia, 35, is an Italian with a PhD in biomedical science from the University of Milan. He joined Manchester United 10 years ago.

In Yang Fan's previous life, after leaving Manchester United in 2013, he successively served as the head of sports science at Palermo, Roma, Inter Milan, Verona, Marseille and Atalanta, and his ability was beyond doubt.

Gary Walker, 32, holds a PhD in exercise physiology from Loughborough University. He joined Manchester United in 08 as chief sports scientist and fitness coach.

In Yang Fan's previous life, he worked at Manchester United until 2019, and then went to Cincinnati, USA. In 24, he became the head of sports science at Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Premier League, and led the establishment of Brighton's sports science department.

The youngest member of the team is Paolo Gaudino, an Italian born in 86.

After obtaining his doctorate in sports science from the University of Milan in 2012, he joined Manchester United, primarily working on data analysis related to player fitness and injuries.

There were two reasons that really caught Yang Fan's attention.

Paolo Gaudino's father was Claudio Gaudino, an authority in the field of physical training.

This is arguably the world's most renowned physical trainer, currently coaching in China under Marcello Lippi.

Another point is that in Yang Fan's previous life, Paul Gaudino was a master of physical data analysis for Manchester United in the coming years.

He didn't join Saint-Étienne in Ligue 1 until the summer of 2025, where he became the head of the sports science department.

Unlike other physical trainers who lead the team on the field, Paulo Gaudino, like Yang Fan, stood on the sidelines.

But he remained busy and focused on taking notes.

As Yang Fan combined his memories from both lifetimes, he marveled at the abundance of talent in Manchester United's coaching team, but he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.

Who says Europe doesn't value academic qualifications?

Manchester United's sports science department requires at least a PhD.

Yang Fan was also very interested in this department that was familiar to countless fans in 2026, yet shrouded in mystery.

Taking advantage of the players' break, Yang Fan took the initiative to strike up a conversation with Paulo Gaudino.

"Recording is only part of it. The entire training ground is equipped with high-definition cameras. Even after training is over, we can review and analyze the players' training at any time, obtain the various data we need, and conduct targeted analysis."

Paul Godino explained his job to Yang Fan.

However, after he finished speaking, he couldn't help but shake his head.

"Athletic performance and data analysis are not uncommon in Europe, especially in Germany. Teams like the German national team, Bayern Munich, and Borussia Dortmund have long used this model, but in Britain..."

Gaudino pointed to Gary Walker and others on the court and said with a wry smile, "They still believe more in personally playing on the field."

"Ha, who can argue with that?" Yang Fan felt this deeply. "I'm here to reform process management. When I first arrived, everyone at Carrington, from scouts and coaches to employees, treated data and information as their own secrets."

"They keep all their materials, documents, and information on their laptops at home and carry them with them to and from get off work, for fear of leaking secrets and losing their competitiveness in the workplace."

"Everyone treats their job like their own little plot of land, so I asked them, 'What if your laptop breaks down, gets lost, or is accidentally stolen?'"

Yang Fan poked his temple at this point, looking speechless, and said, "Many people have told me, 'Don't worry, everything's with me.'"

"The thing they said to me most often was, 'Your methods don't work here. We at Manchester United have been doing this for so many years, and we've still won so many titles, haven't we?'"

Gaudino was amused by Yang Fan's words and actions.

But that is the truth.

Britain is both open-minded and conservative, and also particularly stubborn.

The two were of similar age and had a lot in common.

They all shared a very similar impression of many of the older Manchester United players.

Naturally, there was more resonance in the conversation.

……

Yesterday afternoon's match was followed by a training session today focused on recovery, with low intensity.

Yang Fan observed the whole process but did not participate.

This stands in stark contrast to Moyes, who was hands-on in everything.

Of course, the most important thing is that he doesn't understand at all.

From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., after the recovery training, the players go back to shower, change clothes, and eat in the restaurant.

After dinner, you can go home from get off work and rest in the afternoon and evening.

Tomorrow, Monday, will mainly be a period of recovery and adjustment.

Based on today's training session, Yang Fan believes that Manchester United's biggest problem right now is still morale and confidence.

But this cannot be restored overnight.

The only positive thing is that the restaurant started serving the "Champion's Meal" again at lunchtime, and there was no limit to the amount.

Many players chose this dish.

The players finished their meal and went home, but Yang Fan was still busy.

His long-awaited assistant coach arrived.

Mike Phelan’s home is in Nelson, a small town north of Burnley, 65 kilometers from Carrington.

Steve Lund, on the other hand, lived in the middle of England, northeast of Birmingham, in a small town called Burton-on-Trent, about 100 kilometers from Carrington.

These two people, one from the south and one from the north, returned to Carrington one after the other after receiving Yang Fan's call.

Yang Fan met with both of them simultaneously in the small conference room.

Upon meeting, Yang Fan frankly stated his terms: the treatment would remain the same, and the contract would last for the remainder of the season.

Yang Fan's assessment questions were not difficult.

"Given the current state of the team, continuing to follow the style of play of Ferguson or Moyes is clearly out of the question."

"I think Manchester United needs to proactively change their formation in the upcoming matches. What do you think?"