19 January 2024 , 09:23
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Manchester United are turning to AI in a bid to improve their fortunes on the pitch.
The Red Devils are hoping to earn a competitive advantage by launching a partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University. The collaboration sees United join with the university's Insitute of Sport and will provide Erik ten Hag and co with access to research and innovation through PhD programmes that will use AI to develop analysis and metrics currently unavailable to their Premier League rivals.
The intention is for the partnership to facilitate better on-field decisions with an increasing number of metrics measured during matches and at a greater speed. Professor Tim Cable, the institute’s director, believes the project will strengthen the football operations of the club.
He said: "Our collaboration with Manchester United has enabled us to attract world-leading talent into Manchester and bring our state-of-the-art scientific research to address the performance needs of the club.
"The initiative will provide the club with an added layer of intelligence, further strengthening Manchester United’s football operations."
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United have not won a Premier League title since Sir Alex Ferguson departed in 2013 and will hope to close the gap to the likes of Manchester City, who have dominated domestic competition along with Liverpool. The club have seen an increasingly difficult challenge appear to qualify for Europe too due to new investment in the likes of Newcastle and Chelsea, while Aston Villa challenge for the top this term.
Analysts will hope to condense swathes of information to directly influence decisions on the pitch. Players will be tracked throughout games as different phases are analysed to provide coaching staff live feedback on individuals to both protect their own players from injury, and to assess where they can take advantage of their opponents.
Erik ten Hag during Manchester United v Tottenham (PA)A series of new roles will be based across Manchester United's training ground and the city's institute as research is shared with the 13-times Premier League winners. Techniques will first be trialled in training before being translated to matchday scenarios.
The partnership was agreed in 2023 with plans led by United’s director of football insights and innovation Richard Hawkins and deputy football director Andy O’Boyle. Football director John Murtough hopes that players can find benefit in both their performance and development.
He added: "Working with the Institute of Sport will build on our excellent existing research and innovation teams in order to further enhance the performance and development support that we are able provide for our players."