Manchester United have gone to great lengths to maximise the performance level of their players on the tour of the US – right down to personalised sleep and meal plans. United's chef and nutrition team have devised bespoke meals for each player, while members of Erik ten Hag 's squad have also been given a hydration plan to avoid any risk of dehydration in the searing Los Angeles heat. In addition, players have been issued with individually tailored compression garments to increase blood circulation, while training sessions have been specifically scheduled to allow players to be exposed to natural light, at the best time of day, to reduce the effects of jet lag.
United's 29-man squad landed in LA at 5.30pm local time on Wednesday , eight hours behind UK time, with every possible measure taken to give the players the best chance of adjusting to the time difference to deliver the best in training and matches. Hollywood royalty will be out in force to support Manchester United in their opening US tour game against Arsenal in Los Angeles.
Oscar winner and LA resident Gary Oldman, a United fan, will be in attendance at SoFi Stadium to watch his team begin their three-game US tour. Oldman, currently starring in the hugely successful Apple TV series Slow Horses, was a VIP guest for a game at Old Trafford last season and was also at Wembley for United's FA Cup final win over local rivals Manchester City in May. Another Hollywood superstar and fellow United fan, Julia Roberts – who spent a day watching the tennis at Wimbledon earlier this month – could also make an appearance at the game, with her three children, who are all Red Devils fans.
Pretty Woman star Roberts, who has also attended a game at Old Trafford, was at United's tour opener against Arsenal last season in New Jersey and met Ten Hag, who presented her with a shirt with her name on the back, as well as Marcus Rashford . The last time United were in Los Angeles, back in 2018 under Jose Mourinho, the squad stayed at the iconic Beverly Wilshire Hotel - ironically featured in Pretty Woman. This time, however, United have opted to stay at the five-star SLS Beverly Hills, a Luxury Collection hotel, where rooms start at £450 a night.
United are often greeted by hundreds of hysterical fans when they arrive at their hotel on summer tours, particularly in the Far East, but Erik ten Hag and his players were treated to a low-key welcome to Los Angeles on Wednesday evening. Their Virgin Atlantic flight landed just before 5.30pm local time at a private terminal at LAX and the squad then got a police escort through the rush hour traffic, arriving at their hotel at 6.
30pm. The only people outside the hotel were a group of reporters, waiting to film United’s arrival. United coach Steve McClaren has not travelled to the US, but has stayed in Manchester to work with those players who will return to training too late to join the tour.
McClaren’s role has changed from assistant manager to senior first-team coach following the arrival of new coaches Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake, who are now Ten Hag's right-hand men. Former England boss McClaren also underwent foot surgery recently, which has restricted his mobility, so the decision was taken for him to stay behind and work with those players who were involved in the latter stages of Euro 2024 and Copa America, including Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw, Joshua Zirkzee, Lisandro Martinez, Alejandro Garnacho, Facundo Pellistri and Altay Bayindir. All are on an extended break and will work with McClaren and other coaches at Carrington, although some may join up with the tour next week, depending on their individual situation.
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