Erik ten Hag blocks plans for Manchester United squad to visit set of Neighbours during their pre-season tour of Australia

Erik ten Hag has scrapped plans for the Manchester United squad to visit the set of Neigbours during their tour of Australia.

United arrived Down Under last week as part of their pre-season preparations with their new manager running a tight ship ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

Following a dismal 2021-22 season, ten Hag has been putting the squad through a rigorous training regime while also ensuring players are cutting back on media and commercial work in order to focus solely on preparing them for the challenges ahead.  

The Daily Telegraph report ‘visiting local attractions and fulfilling a range of commercial commitments’ have been scaled back significantly with one idea floated by the club’s official channel MUTV firmly rejected by the manager.

United are currently in Melbourne as part of their pre-season tour and during their stay, MUTV proposed a visit to the set of the Australian soap opera. Neighbours, which will broadcast its final ever episode after 37 years on the air next week.

Ten Hag however is said to have rejected those plans.

United have won both their pre-season games so far this summer, beating arch-rivals Liverpool 4-0 in Bangkok before a 4-1 victory over Melbourne Victory on Friday.

They take on Crystal Palace in the city before concluding the tour against Aston Villa in Perth on Saturday.

Two-and-half weeks into pre-season and members of the United squad have already spoken out over the vast difference in the intensity of training sessions compared to under previous regimes.

‘It’s been tough,’ said club captain Harry Maguire. ‘The running has been hard but we’re really looking forward to the season.

‘Erik and his coaching staff are bringing their ideas, and the first two games you’ve seen little