Manchester United

World Club Championship Nutritional Preparation &

Travel Plan
The goal of this nutrition intervention is to support and enhance performance
through effective nutrient timing and supplementation provision

This periodised plan focuses not only on the World Club tournament but the
period after the competition to ensure high standards are not sacrificed as a
result of the negative effects of long haul travel

November December January

24 1 8 15 22 29 5

World Club Champsionship

Champions League (Away)
Manchester City (Away)

Champions League (H)

Middlesborough (H)
Sunderland (H)

Spurs (Away)

Japan Travel

Stoke (Away)
Game 1 & 2

Chelsea (H)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Key Focus Points

1. The game schedule in Japan is unlikely to be a factor if the recovery and

extra time strategies are applied

2. Dealing with the negative effects of long haul on the bodies immunity
needs to be the biggest focus.

3. The demands of the game schedule prior to travel are likely to increase
pressure on muscle mass and immunity prior to long haul travel, so novel
approaches to nutritional recovery need to be adopted at least 14 days
prior to travel as part of inury prevention.

4. Adopting the same recovery protocols for the 3 day short turn around in
games in weeks 5 and 6 will be essential to maintain performance
standards and injury prevention.
Weeks 2 - 3

Improvements in immunity and buffering need to start in this week.

Club Organisation

• During these weeks encourage club chefs to offer dishes with ginger,
shitake mushrooms chilli’s– curies are especially good to incorporate
these immunity boosting foods.

• Create a Supplement area in the senior changing rooms (See Example)

• Change pre game menus and get players use to this

Key Conditioning focus areas for this week:

1. Get the players into the habit of using the game day recovery bags

2. Try different products as samples in recovery periods

(Dried cherries, Phase 2 Beta Power etc)

3. Try identified players with sodium citrate (discuss with Dan)

4. Stick to the recovery and supplementation plans recommended.

5. Provide immunity sheet for players chefs / partners

Player Key focus Areas

1. Start the pre travel supplementation program

1. Increase fruit and green vegetable intakes this week to boost immunity

2. Stay off excess alcohol, this will help keep testosterone levels up and
maintain and even boost your muscle mass. MAKE A COMMITMENT TO
STAY OF Excessive alcohol. 1 SESSION ON IT WILL MAKE 3 WEEKS
WORTH OF TRAINING POINTLESS and seriously reduce immunity

3. Sort any hydration issues out with priority players using the re hydration
protocol

4. Encourage use of good immunity foods at home including blueberries,

pomegranate (juice is best), garlic, Chocolate (must be 75 or 80% cocoa)
Recovery Strategy Week 2 & 3 (Sunderland & Champions League)

Pre Recovery (Identified players only)

• 150ml shot of Lactoway 10 minutes before pre game meal

Post Game Recovery

1. Use Recovery Bags

2. Give players 200ml PAS Phase 1 at half time* Or use 1 SIS Smart Gel

3. 1 Shot (30mls) of Tart cherry juice on entering changing rooms

4. Use protein only recovery shakes and add in 2 teaspoons of coffee & 1
teaspoon colostrums

5. Take 1 sachet SIS Smart Gel

6. Encourage carbohydrates as per normal for all players

*Any players with chronic history of cramp or poor pre game hydration scores to
be discussed with Dan

Recovery Strategy Week 3 (Spurs)

1. For players with acceptable body fat repeat strategy for week 2&3

2. For players with higher body fats use 1-3, then:

3. Avoid any carbohydrate in recovery after game

4. Allow carbohydrate in breakfast the following day but then limit to

carbohydrates on the plane

5. Encourage only vegetable and fruit use as sources of carbohydrates until

arrival at Japan
Week 3: Pre Flight

• Email daily supplement and dietary expectations to hotel with instructions

to put up in bathroom above the toilet

• If recovery session in London, give players identified players dose of

sodium citrate for the day

Hotel prior to going to Airport

Conditioning Staff responsibility

• Provide all players with made up travel shaker for hand luggage.

• TS to go through basics of nutritional management

• Strongly recommend taking an emergency pack to include: sachets of

electrolytes (30), 1 box isotonic gels, packs of dried cherries (10).

Use a “tool box” then this can be used as a secure lockable supplement
box in the dining room in Japan.

Key focus areas for plane travel:

1. Protein and carbohydrates help improve hydration, so use shakes as

required especially if appetite poor*

2. Protein keeps you awake, carbohydrate makes you sleepy. So choose

suitable selections from the business class menu. If it means eating a
dessert do it.

3. Keep hydrated – planes make you sweat more and you loose more water
when you breath.

4. If you use the shakers ask cabin staff to swill them out after you have
used them

Players with any large weight loss and or general hydration issues

• Take 100ml shot of Lactoway before leaving hotel either at breakfast or

prior to main meal

* Compulsory for players with high game involvement against spurs or weight
loss
Japan

Day of Arrival

Basis of diet: High carbohydrate diet at all meals to include a dessert – this
includes players with higher body fats.

1. Issue individual 6 day pill boxes

2. Ensure players are aware of supplement box location

16th December

Basis of diet: High protein at all meals with little carbohydrate options except
vegetable or brown rice

1. Osmocheck players on rising – Apply re hydration protocol as required

2. Make up 100ml shots of Phase 1 at breakfast area for players to take on

getting up

3. Repeat at mid day if required

17th -21st December

Normal menu provision

Japan Recovery Strategy Match Days

Pre Recovery (Identified players only)

• 150ml shot of Lactoway 10 minutes before pre game meal

• Provide made up bottles of sodium citrate

Post Game Recovery

1. Use Recovery Bags

2. Give players 1 SIS Smart Gel at half time in addition to normal fluids or
gels

3. 1 Shot (30mls) of Tart cherry juice on entering changing rooms

4. Use protein only recovery shakes and add in 1 heaped teaspoon

colostrum

5. Encourage carbohydrates as per normal for all players

*Any players with chronic history of cramp or poor pre game hydration scores to
be discussed with Dan

Japan Recovery Strategy Match Days + 1

1. Repeat pre recovery for identified players

2. Sodium citrate should be started before active recovery session

Dietary Supplement Order

Pro Athlete Supplementation (PAS)

Contact: 07816271241 John Williams

Electrolytes x 20 packs (15 sachets in each pack)

Colostrum x 3 packs
Phase 1 x 40 Sachets
Phosphotidlyserine Formulae

Suggested Recovery during game periods: Phase 2 Beta Power

Aliment Nutrition

Contact: 0800 7318845 Charlotte Crockett

Chewable Co Enzyme Q10 x 6

Frutol Berry x 3
4 Essentials x 6

EAS

Muscle Armour x 1

Cherry Active

Contact: 07784 974361 Dave Cullen

964g Tart cherry juice x 5

50g packs of dried tart cherries (50)

Vitalize Health (www.vitalizeshop.co.uk)

Contact: 0870 0428423

Glucosan Travel (60 capsules) x10

Science in Sport (SIS)

Contact: 07775655367 Mark Turner

Isotonic gels x 5 boxes
Smart gels x 5 boxes
Examples of potential recovery bags which are currently sold in Man Utd shop

Supplement / Recovery Cart