Who are Manchester United's team of analysts and what do they do?
Erik ten Hag’s eyes in the sky: After Nou Camp photo revealed EIGHT staff watching on from up high during 2-2 draw with Barcelona… who are Manchester United’s team of analysts and what do they do?
- Erik ten Hag appears to be utilising his team of expert analysts to help his squad
- United’s experts were pictured watching the first leg against Barcelona
- The club made it a priority to build their analytics department under Ten Hag
High up in the Nou Camp overlooking last week’s first leg in Barcelona, Manchester United’s team of experts and analysts process the data that will help Erik ten Hag and his coaching staff down on the pitch.
The photo offers a fascinating glimpse into the work that goes on behind the scenes to give United every possible advantage over their opponents.
Technical director Darren Fletcher sits alongside goalkeeper coach Richard Hartis and analyst Kevin Keij – who also worked under Ten Hag at Ajax – as the team collate video and data during the game to relay the information to pitch-side.
It is also fed into a central database at United’s Carrington headquarters which is overseen by the club’s head of first-team analysis, Paul Brand, so it can be used by Ten Hag to prepare his players for future games.
United’s football director John Murtough has made it a priority to improve the analytics department after the club fell behind Premier League rivals like Liverpool and Manchester City in this area.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag (left) is utilising a team of expert analysts led by technical director Darren Fletcher (right)
Ten Hag’s Eyes in the Sky: United’s team of experts sit aligned at the Nou Camp
A number of new analysts have been recruited – which explains the heavy presence in Spain last week – and United have also beefed up their data science department, led by director Dominic Jordan, which focuses more on scouting and recruitment.
On Wednesday, a drone hovered overhead, filming United’s players as they trained before Thursday’s second leg against Barcelona.
It has become a regular sight at Carrington these days, providing aerial coverage not readily available to the analysts – unless they have a bird’s eye view at the Nou Camp, of course.
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