Manchester United using Sir Dave Brailsford's methods for pre-season preparations

Manchester United are incorporating Ineos sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford’s methods into their pre-season preparations.

United’s touring players in Los Angeles have been provided with a plan that includes designated sleep and meal windows, with bespoke meals designed by performance chef Omar Meziane and the club’s nutrition team.

The players have been given individually-tailored compression garments to increase blood circulation while a hydration plan has been drawn up to avoid the risk of dehydration in mid-twenties temperatures during training sessions at UCLA.

United’s training itinerary has given consideration to the right amount of natural light exposure as well as to shift the players’ body clocks.

The Virgin Atlantic flight United boarded took off from Manchester at 3.30pm on Wednesday and landed at just before 5.30pm at LAX. The squad had a meal in the evening and stayed up for as long as possible to avoid falling asleep early.

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Brailsford, a pioneer of the divisive marginal gains philosophy, is understood to have outlined the benefits of natural light for athletes on the United fans’ advisory board earlier this year.

The former principal of the Team Sky cycling team advocated a specific method of hand-washing while cyclists slept on specific mattresses and pillows.

Sir Bradley Wiggins, who won the Tour de France in 2012 and five Olympic gold medals under Brailsford’s tutelage, dismissed the marginal gains as “a load of rubbish”.

United sources say the measures have been taken to ensure the players maximise their performance across the 10-day tour.

Meziane joined United