Daley Blind comments show Erik ten Hag has already planned Manchester United success

Erik ten Hag pressed the flesh on his first day as Manchester United manager last month, not only shaking hands with journalists in his introductory press conference but also greeting every employee he could find at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag showed plenty of character and charisma on his first tour around the ground and made sure to speak to the staff members he bumped into in the corridor, met in offices or saw in the canteen. The 52-year-old made a strong impression on United staff the day after the club's worst Premier League season had come to a predictably pitiful end.

United's decision to unveil Ten Hag the following day was their attempt at pulling the curtains on the mess that was 2021/22. The Dutchman's arrival was the start of next season and there was no time for looking back.

In Ten Hag, United found a willing accomplice to try and blow away the cobwebs of a campaign that unravelled at startling speed. Experts in Holland and former players suggested the manager that returned success to Ajax was an excellent coach and tactician, but not necessarily a brilliant man-manager and not much of an extrovert.

His press conference gave little away but privately he was engaging and staff who work at the coalface at Old Trafford every day appreciated the personal touch. They might not be as visible in public as players and first-team staff, but they were just as bruised by a despairing season.

It's also looked pretty evident that there have been divisions in the club over the past 12 months and that can spread throughout the workforce as well. It hasn't felt like everyone at United was pulling in the same direction.

This looked like Ten Hag's attempt to try and make it clear this was a fresh start, but it was interesting to