A real nightmare! Manchester United stars face brutal fitness torture under Pochettino
Manchester United's players could be in for a serious shock if Mauricio Pochettino takes charge at Old Trafford.
Details: According to journalist Tom Barclay of The Sun, the Argentine coach is renowned for his extremely demanding fitness regime, which could become a major challenge for the Manchester United squad. One of his most notorious exercises is the Gacon test, a gruelling running drill designed to push players to their physical limits.
The test requires players to complete each run in just 45 seconds, with the distance increasing at every stage. Completing the entire challenge means covering approximately five kilometres across 25 stages.
Former Tottenham defender Kyle Walker revealed that only one player he had ever seen managed to finish the exercise: Dele Alli. The midfielder's extraordinary stamina made him stand out even among elite Premier League footballers.
An equally remarkable story comes from Pochettino's time at Southampton. Former striker Rickie Lambert recalled that he and teammate Jos Hooiveld complained to the manager about having to complete 12 exhausting horseshoe runs during training.
Pochettino's response was ruthless: at the next session, the players were ordered to complete 24 runs instead. Lambert later admitted that the squad eventually embraced the demanding approach and that he had never been fitter during his career.
Manchester United have reportedly reached an agreement in principle with Pochettino, although his appointment remains conditional on Michael Carrick's departure. The Argentine currently manages the United States national team.
It's worth noting that Southampton finished eighth in the Premier League in the 2013/14 season under Pochettino, before the Argentine departed for Tottenham.
Reminder: BREAKING: Manchester United and Mauricio Pochettino reach an agreement in principle!
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
