Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag took part in the players' punishing run last week after defeat at Brentford.
Statistics from the game showed United had run 13.8km less than Brentford to compound their humiliation and Ten Hag ordered them to make up the distance as their scheduled Sunday off was cancelled and they were hauled in for extra training in blistering heat.
The Daily Mail says United's players were far from happy but Ten Hag made the unusual step of undertaking the run himself to underline his message that everyone was responsible, from the coaching staff down.
Ten Hag underlined there had been 'too much talk' regarding what United's players should do and that 'it was time to act' with hard work and commitment.
It was his way of telling the players that he shared responsibility and was equally culpable for how he had set them up and the instructions he gave.
He told them that he was part of the team so should share the punishment, however, he subsequently struggled to get through the run.
The move though is understood to have gone some way to Ten Hag gaining respect and winning over members of the squad who had yet to be convinced by the Dutch coach.