Erik ten Hag sheds light on rules around Manchester United staff texting players

Erik ten Hag has admitted that he instructs his staff to avoid contacting the players during off days due to the time they already spend together.

The Dutchman discussed this choice while answering a series of rapid-fire questions on the Sky Sports' Premier League YouTube channel. Ten Hag explained that he allows Manchester United players to have their own space outside of work hours, unless they have a special occasion planned.

Ten Hag is renowned for implementing strict regulations and has offered a rare glimpse into his management style at United. The 54-year-old has already fielded questions about his future at the club this season following an inconsistent start to the campaign.

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United are set to face another crucial match today as they host Tottenham in a pivotal encounter, with both teams harbouring European aspirations for the current campaign. Spurs will enter the match buoyed by their recent 3-0 Europa League triumph over Qarabag, while United will be seeking to bounce back from a disappointing draw against FC Twente in the same tournament.

Ahead of the game, Ten Hag stated that due to the considerable amount of time that they spend together, staff members 'leave the players alone' when they're off the training ground.

"We leave them alone because we meet so often and we spend so much time together when we are in a season," Ten Hag said when asked if he or staff members speak to players outside of training and matches. "That is so intense on a daily basis in the training ground because with all the matches we play, we go away on tour, so we have many moments of contact, and then when they have their spare time, we leave them alone.

"Maybe when there's a player for a wedding or for when something happens in the family, and so much special moments like this, you show your interest, but otherwise you leave the players alone."

Ten Hag also shared his preparation tactics for each weekend game, claiming that no matter how much time he has, he will always make sure to guide the team to the best of his abilities. He said: "It [the preparation] depends if we have a one-week slot or we have three or four days after [a game]. Of course, when you have one week, it [training] can be a little bit later on in the week, and when you have a three-day slot then after every game is finished, you go up into the next game.

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"You have to deal with it, and of course you need an approach and you have to plan in advance that you have some guidance for yourself but also to make the right decisions and planning [ahead] gives you a lot and it gives you a lot of how you have to guide the team."

About his staff's jobs on matchday, he added: "We do it together, it's not something individual or only from the manager. As a staff we have to choose a game plan and we have to agree on this. Of course, in the end I have to make the final call but it's a common project every game."

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