Sir Dave Brailsford's warning for under-performing Manchester United stars

Sir Dave Brailsford is famous for his ‘marginal gains’ mantra (Photo credit should read MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)

Sir Dave Brailsford has warned Manchester United’s under-performing squad he will not tolerate a bad work ethic.

The Red Devils have endured a torrid campaign, which has left them in eighth after 20 matches in the Premier League.

United have scored just 22 goals in that time, and they finished bottom of their Champions League group.

That’s despite having one of the largest wage bills in the world, and having spent more than £400m in three transfer windows under Erik ten Hag.

The pressure is now building on the Dutchman’s position, but he insists once injured players return so too will the club’s progress.

There is no doubting the talent of United’s squad, as proven by last season’s third place finish and reaching two cup finals.

What is in doubt is the attitude and mentality of the players, and whether they can deal with the pressures of playing for the club.

But, in an interview in 2023, Brailsford already made it clear that he will not tolerate working with athletes that do not match their talent with their work ethic.

Brailsford has attended United’s last two matches(Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

Asked about working with athletes that do not work hard, Brailsford said: ‘In our world, you wouldn’t work with them. I wouldn’t work with them. I’d support them and not be unpleasant or unkind or anything. But it’s not going to work.

‘You have to have that commitment and that drive, and that’s got to be there. If that’s not there, then you don’t go past square one, really.

‘When you’re young, you can perform and get to a really high standard on your talent, but when you get to the top of the top and there’s maybe five or six who have a similar level of talent.

‘Some can get the best out of themselves. You can get that normal high level of performance, and then every now and then, you get this discretionary level of performance – that little bit on top, thinking that was absolutely me or you at our best

‘We’re not in the business of that high level of performance, we’re in the business of trying to get that discretionary performance as often as possible when it really matters.

‘And that’s what we really got to think about, and it’s unlikely that you get that on talent alone. Even in the most out-there talent, who are flamboyant or do the unexpected, they nearly all are committed and very, very bought in and driven by what they’re doing.’

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