January 15 – Manchester United have scrapped plans for a training camp in the Gulf during next month’s English winter break because of heightening tensions in the region.
The Football Association confirmed 18 months ago that the Premier League’s first ever winter break would be introduced this season on a staggered basis and United do not play between Premier League matches at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on February 1 and at Chelsea on February 17.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took his squad to Dubai in January last year and sent some of his players there again in November during an international break. United have also previously used the Aspire Academy in Qatar’s capital Doha for a winter training camp.
But similar plans have been shelved in the wake of the American drone attack that killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.
“We were looking at the Middle East but that is definitely not going to happen,” Solskjaer told British media. “I am going to give them a few days off. I don’t know where they will all scatter around but we will stay in Europe.”
“If there is one thing that worries me it’s not on the football pitch. There are other things that will worry me more than football. We were looking at the Middle East but that is definitely not going to happen.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1713934626labto1713934626ofdlr1713934626owedi1713934626sni@w1713934626ahsra1713934626w.wer1713934626dna1713934626