Moyes is a 'dinosaur': Jurassic training regime is why Van Persie is ...

By James Andrew

PUBLISHED: 02:30 EST, 25 July 2013 | UPDATED: 02:43 EST, 25 July 2013

David Moyes has been called a dinosaur and his coaching methods have been labelled as prehistoric and the reason behind Robin van Persie's injury concerns.

A leading Dutch fitness specialist has called into question Moyes' training regime and believes Van Persie being taken off at half-time during United's friendly in Japan on Tuesday because he had experienced tightness in a thigh was down to the new United boss.

Moyes said taking the striker off was pre­cautionary and that he expected the striker to be fine.

But Raymond Verheijen, who has worked with Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester City among others and has a reputation for being outspoken, hit out at the Scot.

Writing on his Twitter account, Verheijin noted that Moyes had previously said United had 'overtrained' Van Persie at the start of pre-season.

He wrote: 'In Sydney Moyes said: 'We've overtrained Robin this week to build up his fitness'. [In Japan] he picked up muscle injury. It really makes you wonder how these prehistoric training methods can still take place at the highest level.

'The only way to solve this problem in Jurassic Park is to improve education of these dinosaur coaches, fitness clowns & scientific cowboys.

'All over the world in pre-season you see the pattern 'overtraining-fatigue-injuries'. Always avoid accumulation of fatigue in pre-season.

'But as long as most dinosaurs are still in denial & ignore how things develop in other countries, nothing will ever change in Jurassic Park. Obviously, players like RVP should learn to protect themselves better against 'overtraining' & 'punishing training'.'