Manchester United scraps plans for Gulf region training camp over security concerns

Manchester United has abandoned plans to for training camp in the Gulf region next month due to security issues in the region.

With United not playing any match in two weeks between 1 February and 17 February Ole Gunnar Solskjaer plans to give his players some time off and later camp in the Gulf region.

While the actual destination had not been determined, Qatar and the UAE are top on the possible destinations list judging by history.

Last year January Solskjaer took his United team to Dubai and sent some members of his squad there again during the November international break.

With the rising tensions in the region after senior Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US air strike in Baghdad and a Ukrainian International Airlines plane was accidentally shot down in Tehran, killing all 176 passengers, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has decided to keep his team in Europe with either of Spain or Portugal the likely destination.

The European competitions resume next month with United taking on Belgian side Club Brugge in the Europa League round of 32.

When asked if United’s plans had changed, Solskjaer said: “Yes, there are things that worry me more than football.

“We were looking at the Middle East but that is definitely not going to happen. We will stay in Europe.”

Going forward United plans to build from within with youngstars forming the core of the manager’s plans.

“We are behind and a fair rate behind the top one now, who we play on Sunday and we’ll see where we are against them,” he said.

“But with a few signings, with the improvement these players are making, in the next couple of years we want to do that.”

The manager is satisfied with the performances his young players and believes the face of the team doesn’t need to change that much.

“This is a group you can work with,” he said. “They’re going to give you everything. That’s the core of what the team is going to be moving forward, for me.

“Of course we’re looking at a couple of signings and strengthening here and there but the core group is there.”