Manchester United's players are being let down this summer

Manchester United's players began to look weary at the business end of the season, with a gruelling schedule finally taking its toll.

The 2022/23 Premier League campaign began earlier and finished later than usual to accommodate the winter World Cup in Qatar and Erik ten Hag wasn't afraid to regularly point out just how absurd and demanding the fixture list had become.

United took part in four different competitions and they reached the final of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, meaning by the end of their season, they had played 62 games, which was 13 more fixtures than had been played in 2021/22.

To their credit, the players competed twice a week for the majority of the calendar year and the final whistle in the FA Cup final at Wembley on June 3 signalled the end of a mentally and physically challenging few months.

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Ten Hag wants his team to play on the front foot, with energy and intensity and the difficulty of maintaining those levels when playing twice per week, especially when sometimes just training once ahead of a fixture, should not be underestimated.

After the FA Cup defeat, Ten Hag debriefed at Carrington and the players jetted off around the world for a deserved break. They had been on the go since August 6 and the opportunity to recharge with family and friends was welcomed.

The problem is, the chance for a break lasted just eight days for those who represent their country. There are international fixtures this month and England have Euro 2024 qualifying matches to play.

England have games against Malta and North Macedonia this month and Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford have been called up to the squad, fresh on the back of the FA Cup