Elanga explains importance of Spain camp

United leave for Andalusia on Saturday, with the squad set to enjoy a week of warmer-weather work based around two friendlies, against Cadiz on 7 December and Real Betis three days later. Both are available to watch live on MUTV.

With 13 Reds, plus loan players Hannibal and Alex Telles, taking part in Qatar, Elanga sees it as a good opportunity to get minutes into the legs of those who have stayed home and not been involved in competitive action since the dramatic 2-1 win over Fulham almost three weeks ago.

“It will be really important, because obviously the ones who are going to the World Cup are getting their fitness in by playing and training, so it’s only right we do the same,” Elanga told club media.

“We can’t afford to rest, because we’ve got some games coming up at Christmas and we’ve got to be ready for them. We’ve got to keep this going.”

As Anthony alludes to, United are back in action just three days after the 18 December World Cup final, as we welcome Burnley to Old Trafford for a Carabao Cup fourth-round tie.

Depending on the progress of our players at the World Cup, it remains to be seen what sort of squad Erik ten Hag will have to work with for the visit of Vincent Kompany’s Championship high-flyers.

But Elanga feels it’s important for everyone to be prepared if they're called upon, with the Premier League season resuming with another M16 outing the following Tuesday, against Nottingham Forest.

“I feel like you’ve always got to be ready,” he continued. “Regardless of whether you’re going [to the World Cup] or not, regardless of whether you’re starting or not, you’ve always got to be ready.

“You can’t be thinking too much. When you get the opportunity, take it, and see where that takes you.”

While the domestic campaign has been put on hold and is firmly at the back of the popular agenda at the moment, everyone can look forward to a busy second half of the season.

United still have 24 top-flight fixtures to play, and can now add an Emirates FA Cup date to a packed early 2023 schedule which also takes in a home-and-away Europa League tie with Barcelona.

“It’s going to be crazy, the amount of games that are going to be played this season,” Elanga said, when reminded that there is still lots of football ahead in 2022/23.

“On top of that, we’ve got Euros qualifiers [for Sweden] next year, Euros qualifiers in June, so the season is going to be stacked with games.”

The Cadiz and Real Betis matches will be shown live on MUTV, which can be accessed via the Man Utd app on the iOS App Store or Google Play Store, on ManUtd.com or via the following connected TV platforms; Samsung Smart TVs, Android TV, LG Smart TVs, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku TV and Xbox.