Manchester United players 'asked for day off after Fulham defeat'

A handful of Manchester United players reportedly requested to take Sunday off after the Red Devils' 2-1 loss to Fulham in the Premier League.

The Red Devils' seven-game unbeaten run — which had stood since the start of the year — and five-match winning streak crashed and burned against the Cottagers, whom they faced without in-form striker Rasmus Hojlund due to a muscle injury.

After sixty-five minutes of goalless action at Old Trafford, the visitors drew first blood through Calvin Bassey, but Harry Maguire had seemingly stolen a point for the Red Devils with his 89th-minute effort.

However, seven minutes into second-half injury time, ex-Arsenal man Alex Iwobi left Erik ten Hag and co dumbfounded with the winning goal for Fulham, who condemned Man United to their 10th top-flight loss of the 2023-24 season.

Ten Hag's men had ignited a top-four charge thanks to their stellar start to 2024, but the sixth-placed Red Devils are now eight points behind Aston Villa in the final Champions League place, while Tottenham Hotspur are three points better off with a match in hand.

According to The Guardian, a portion of unnamed Man United players told coaching staff that they wanted a day off on Sunday, in spite of their disappointing defeat and the fact that analysis and warm-down sessions usually take place the day after a game.

Ten Hag was apparently not made aware of the request, which was rejected by «surprised» coaches, who instead reminded the players of their responsibilities and ordered them to report for training at Carrington as normal.

Man United broke several unwanted records during a dismal start to the 2023-24 season, which some players allegedly felt was due to tiredness from a brutal pre-season under Ten Hag.

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