MANCHESTER UNITED enjoyed an extra day in the Cyprus sun as they continued preparations to face Everton.
The Red Devils followed up their embarrassing 6-3 defeat to rivals Manchester City with a close shave against minnows Omonia on Thursday night.
Two-goal Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial rescued Erik ten Hag’s team as they secured a 3-2 Europa League victory.
But instead of heading straight back to Manchester, the United squad stayed the night on the Mediterranean island.
A number of their players were put through their paces in training this morning, while ten of the starting XI from Thursday stayed at the hotel for a recovery session.
Tyrell Malacia, who was taken off and replaced by Luke Shaw at half-time, was the only man that started to train outside.
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Now United will be hoping that the extra day of sun can get them warmed-up to return to winning ways domestically at Goodison Park on Sunday.
And Diogo Dalot has revealed that United’s players can no longer hide under Ten Hag.
Last Sunday’s Etihad thrashing halted the progress United had appeared to have made under Ten Hag after four consecutive victories, including wins over Arsenal and Liverpool.
But Portuguese fullback Dalot has laid the responsibility for their blip in form at the feet of the players instead of their manager.
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Dalot, 23, said: “After a defeat like against City it is always tough but it is time to take responsibility. At the beginning of the season we were like this with ups and downs but we try to be as consistent as we can.
“We have to find consistency and that comes with results and with confidence. Tonight we had a positive result.
“If you play for Man United you believe in every single game. You have to have confidence as well but you have to take the responsibility that you’re playing for the biggest club in the world.”
And the defender feels the club’s rebuild under Ten Hag is already starting to show with the subs being the difference against Omonia.
He added: “We want to build a squad – not just 11, 12, 13 players.
“We had some games – not just today, in the past – where I remember the players who came on really made a big impact and this shows we can have a long-term thing that we want to build – a very good squad and team that will be competing.
“That’s what this club wants. Overall we want to bring a proper squad to fight for titles.”
After spending the night in Cyprus and training, United headed back to Manchester this afternoon ahead of their trip to Everton.
Ten Hag added: “I will give players trust, I will back them when they are in worse shape.
“When they work hard, when they give their best in training sessions, when they take responsibility on the pitch, I will back them.
“But we are also united and our ambitions are really high, so you have to deliver and every player in the squad has to take that responsibility individually and they have to do it in a team culture.
“That is the demand from us, from the coaches to the players.”
Ten Hag revealed Raphael Varane could be fit for the clash at Goodison Park after sitting out the tie in Cyprus with an ankle injury.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
