Starting with saving Manchester United

Yang Fan had specifically checked the schedule during today's training session.

In European football, if there is one match per week, there are normally 10 training sessions between two matches.

Even in the later stages of the season, when players are generally fatigued, the game can usually go on for eight quarters.

There's even a one-day rest period in between.

But if it's like Manchester United now, with Champions League matches in the middle of the week, then the situation is completely different.

They lost 0-3 to Liverpool at home last Saturday afternoon. Sunday was for resuming training, and Monday was for adjustment.

On Tuesday, the team needs to analyze and resolve the problems from the previous match, prepare for the next match, inform the players of the match strategy, and make appropriate tactical arrangements.

Wednesday night is the crucial Champions League match against Olympiacos.

After Wednesday's game, Thursday is for recovery and adjustment, Friday is for repeating Tuesday's training, and Saturday is another game.

With two matches a week, a maximum of five training sessions can be held.

Time was extremely tight, and there was simply no time to conduct targeted tactical drills.

This is why, despite many fans being able to see the problems during the season, the head coach simply refused to make changes.

It's not that they don't want to, but that they don't have the time.

Not to mention Manchester United now, which has to make a do-or-die tactical change.

What should I do?

The coaching staff's experience and adaptability became apparent.

"We can incorporate some simple individual tactical drills into tomorrow's (Monday's) training session."

Steve Lund was in charge of training the entire team in Moyes' coaching staff.

"The analysis and summary meeting on Tuesday is very necessary, and preparing for the next game is equally important. Both are scheduled for the morning, focusing on video analysis, while also conveying some of the team's tactical ideas after the formation change."

"The afternoon training session will focus on the core parts of the morning's video analysis meeting and provide guidance and training."

"Wednesday is the Champions League match, which is in the evening. In the morning, we can conduct some simple team tactical drills to let the players familiarize themselves with the tactical arrangements for the match in advance."

If it's a Premier League match or an English domestic cup match during the week, it's usually in the afternoon, or even at noon, so there's definitely no way to train in the morning.

Yang Fan looked at Mike Phelan, who mainly served as Ferguson's assistant in the coaching staff during Ferguson's time, with René Mullensteen in charge of training.

Currently, Steve Lund has replaced René Mullensteen.

Mike Phelan has a very good relationship with the Manchester United players, and he also thinks that Steve Lande's adjustments are feasible.

"I'll be in charge of communication and coordination with the players."

We need to increase the players' training time, especially by adding an extra training session on Wednesday mornings. Although the intensity is not high, we still need to communicate with the players in advance.

This is the same principle as a boss asking employees to work overtime, especially when no overtime pay is given.

If not handled properly, and players go on the field with negative emotions, the outcome could be unpredictable.

"The biggest problem now is recording," Steve Lund said, looking at Yang Fan.

As mentioned before, the Manchester United manager only oversees the first team; the analytics department now reports directly to Woodward and is managed by John Mottaf, making it a cross-departmental collaboration.

White-collar workers who frequently work in companies know that cross-departmental cooperation often means endless wrangling.

Your KPIs aren't their KPIs.

You're in a hurry, but they're not.

You said you needed it in the morning, but they dragged their feet and it wasn't finished by the afternoon.

The answer is that we have other, more important tasks.

This makes me want to criticize Moyes again.

He immediately fired Ferguson's core players, causing widespread anxiety within the club.

Even someone at the level of Steve Brown, the head of the analytics department, still feels insecure.

Now that they are under John Mottaf's jurisdiction, things have stabilized.

But if that happens, will they still listen to Moyes?

Not to mention Yang Fan, the interim head coach.

Looking for John Murtaff?

Don't be ridiculous, they probably don't take Yang Fan seriously either.

Should we go up further up to find Woodward?

Even stupider.

If you go to the boss for every little thing, what's the point of having you?

Especially with this kind of urgent work, it's clear that we'll have to work overtime.

Even if you pressure the other party with your superiors, the things they produce may not be usable.

Mike Phelan was also at a loss.

What used to be a simple matter that Ferguson could resolve with a single word has now become an endless series of disputes, leaving him helpless.

Yang Fan suddenly thought of Paul Brand, wasn't he from the analytics department?

So he immediately grabbed his phone and found Paul Brand's number.

The person arrived shortly after.

What happened today made Paul Brand look at Yang Fan in a completely new light.

When he returned to the small conference room and saw Mike Phelan and Steve Lund, he was even more surprised.

Upon hearing Yang Fan explain his current difficulties, he agreed without hesitation.

"Leave this to me. Even if I have to stay up all night, I will definitely produce the analysis report and video recording you need."

Yang Fan was also loyal: "I called Steve Brown and told him that I forced you to stay and work."

"If he asks about it later, just push all the trouble onto me."

Paul Brand was slightly taken aback.

Helping Yang Fan with his work without the department head's permission is definitely going to cause trouble.

But Yang Fan is now taking the initiative to take the blame for him, relieving him of any worries.

"Thanks, Yang!"

"I should be thanking you."

Steve Lund and Mike Phelan exchanged a glance, both noticing something amiss.

A responsible boss is truly rare!

It was at this moment that Gary Walker and Paul Gaudino from the strength and conditioning team delivered their analysis and summary of today's training session.

……

"Why is it you guys?"

Yang Fan left Steve Lund and the other two in the small conference room to continue their work discussion, while he met with Gary Walker and Paul Gaudino in his cramped office.

"Where are Richard and Tony?"

Gary Walker and Paul Gaudino exchanged an awkward glance, and the former said with a wry smile, "They both had something come up, so they sent us over."

Paul Godino nodded awkwardly.

Yang Fan raised his head and looked deeply at the two of them, his mind clear as day.

This is a show of force to him!

Richard Hawkins is the strength and conditioning director, and Tony Stradwick is the assistant director. Coincidentally, both of them are busy.

But who is Yang Fan?

Losing your temper with subordinates is something only an incompetent person does.

Besides, they've brought talent to our doorstep; how could we possibly refuse?

"Perfect timing, there's something I need your help with."

"What is it?" Gary Walker and Paul Godino both looked surprised.

Paul Gaudino had just graduated from university and worked at Manchester United for a year.

Gary Walker joined Manchester United in 08. He not only engages in scientific research and data analysis, but also participates in the first team's physical training.

Richard Hawkins's arrangement for the two of them to deliver this report was itself a perfunctory gesture.

But Yang Fan knew all too well what these two were capable of.

So he laid out his thoughts in detail and solemnly extended an invitation.

"I hope you two can join my temporary team!"

Gary Walker and Paul Gaudino looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Yang, please forgive my intrusion, why?" Gary Walker, being slightly older, was more cautious.

"It's very simple." Yang Fan nodded with a smile. "This morning, Paul's words resonated with me, especially regarding the analysis of athletic performance and physical data. I remember that the German national team started doing this in 2004, Klopp implemented it for many years at Dortmund, and Rangnick at Hoffenheim..."

"These are all remarkable achievements, proving that this path is feasible and is definitely the direction of the future."

"Manchester United's current physical training is still the same old one-size-fits-all approach, without any targeted management, and it's very rough."

Gary Walker and Paul Godinoo nodded in unison.

They all felt that their own value had not been truly recognized and trusted.

Manchester United's managers place more faith in their own experience.

"I'm not a professional, but I love football and have been observing and analyzing it. Over the years, the style of football in Europe has changed a lot, the pace of the game has become faster and faster, and training methods naturally need to keep up with the times."

"You're right, Yang!" Gary Walker couldn't help but agree.

"Actually, we've discussed this issue within our fitness team, but opinions differ. Many people insist that the total running distance in a football match in the Premier League hasn't changed much from the past."

"I've done some statistics, and the changes aren't that big, but the pace is definitely faster because there are a lot more high-speed sprints and short-distance quick runs than before. The number of sprints per game has increased by more than 40%."

"That's why the total running distance didn't change much, but the pace of the race quickened."

"But not every position is like that."

Yang Fan wholeheartedly agreed.

Forwards and defenders, players in the center and those on the flanks—players in different positions have different technical requirements, different running speeds, and naturally, different physical requirements.

Shouldn't we also make targeted arrangements during training?

This was already a consensus in 2026.

But in the current Premier League, it's actually quite novel.

Why did Robin van Persie and David Moyes fall out?

It was because Moyes required Van Persie to put in the same high-intensity physical training as everyone else.

This is a one-size-fits-all approach!

"Future football training, especially physical training, will definitely be the kind of extremely precise, surgical-like training," Yang Fan affirmed.

"That's right, we can't have all the players doing the same thing every day, it doesn't make sense," Gary Walker exclaimed.

"We should consider various variables such as the players' age, injury history, genetics, position, and even their current physical condition, and tailor targeted training programs for them."

Yang Fan praised and affirmed, "This is the direction for the future!"

Paul Godino nodded repeatedly.

His father, Lippi, and even Ferguson before him all made the same judgment.

But none of them were as certain as Yang Fan.

Especially when it comes to financial investment.

The simplest proof is that Paul Gaudino did not receive a salary in his early days at Manchester United; he could only train with the team and analyze their training data.

After receiving their official contracts, both Gary Walker and Paul Gaudino received relatively low salaries.

In addition, their majors are not highly valued, which leads to a sense of resentment and frustration at their unfulfilled potential.

Now, Yang Fan's olive branch is like opening a window for them.

"I'm willing to join!" Gary Walker made the decision immediately.

"I'd like to too!" Paul Godino immediately agreed.

Yang Fan smiled and nodded. "I will call Richard myself and say that I forced him to do it."

The two appreciated Yang Fan's kindness.

"If they ask about your work in the temporary team later, aside from some private matters related to the competition, just tell them the truth. There's nothing to hide. As for any difficult tasks, just push them onto me."

The two were even more grateful after hearing this.

In their situation, the worst thing is to be suspected by their superiors.

Yang Fan has now resolved all their worries.

What else is there to say?

Go all out and do it!