Manchester United get sleep and meal windows to tackle jet lag on US tour

Erik ten Hag wants Manchester United to get started on their US tour straight away and to combat jet lag. That means training in Los Angeles at times when his players get the best light and providing designated sleeping and eating times.

United arrived in LA, which is eight hours behind the UK, at around 5:30pm on Wednesday. Their opening game is against Arsenal at 5pm local time on Saturday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

The physical performance department has taken a number of measures to promote preparation, as training takes place on Thursdays and Fridays.

Training has been planned to support the squad as their body clocks adjust to the time difference, taking into account light exposure at the best time of day. United’s performance manager and nutrition team have designed bespoke meals. Players have also been given a plan with designated sleep and meal windows, a hydration schedule to avoid the risk of dehydration and individually tailored compression garments to improve blood circulation.

The hope is that the measures will give the players the optimum platform to adapt quickly and maximise their performance. On Wednesday, United make a short trip south to take on Real Betis at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, before flying to South Carolina for the final match, taking on Liverpool at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia.

Tyrell Malacia has not travelled to the US as he continues to recover from a serious knee injury that ruled him out last season. The 24-year-old left-back last played for United in the final game of last season.