Manchester United news: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer concerned over player fitness after sudden drop-off

United’s run of two below-par wins in six matches has triggered concerns among the management staff that the players are not at the required fitness level to meet his high-intensity demands

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the Manchester United staff will assess the club’s physical conditioning in the summer, as there is a concern that the season’s approach has led to the loss of energy and drop in performance level over the past few weeks.

The Norwegian initially introduced a high-intensity game-plan that brought rousing displays and results in his first two months in the job, only for that to drastically drop off in the last few weeks.

United have only won two of their last six games, with both victories coming in otherwise unconvincing performances against Watford and West Ham United. Solskjaer and his staff feel the fitness levels of the squad have not been suited to how he wants to play, and there is dismay in how quickly the approach has resulted in fatigue and injuries.

There are therefore likely to be changes to the approach in the summer, as Solskjaer alters their physical conditioning.

Previous manager Jose Mourinho did regularly have complaints about injuries, and made significant changes of his own with the fitness approach, but Solskjaer does not feel the work done on the squad this season serves what he wants to do.

Solskjaer will deliver an update on his squad on Monday evening ahead of the Champions League quarter-final second leg with Barcelona, with concerns still over Nemanja Matic after the midfielder missed Saturday’s win over West Ham with illness, while Ander Herrera is unlikely to return.