Erik ten Hag could contradict his reputation with Man United selection decision vs Tottenham

Erik ten Hag has done a lot of great things in his first season in charge of Manchester United and they all stem from a basic principle: ruthless and committed decision-making. You're either with him and reach the standards or you're out of the picture.

Cristiano Ronaldo was the most high-profile casualty of this refreshing return of discipline to United. Like a child testing his parent's patience, the Portuguese icon was repeatedly pushing the boundaries to see what he could get away with. Every other manager in his career may have given him leeway to do as he pleased, but in Ten Hag he found a stern master who wouldn't put up with his petulant behaviour.

The Dutchman didn't waver in the face of Ronaldo's stroppiness or play him on reputation alone, when he stormed down the tunnel after refusing to come on he stayed at home for the next game and then when he went nuclear on the club with his interview he was shown the door.

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It's the most drastic case but not the only one. Marcus Rashford was dropped to the bench after he missed a team meeting and Alejandro Garnacho didn't get as many minutes as he would have liked in pre-season due to a bad attitude. On the pitch, players who haven't been playing well enough have found it hard to get in the side, at least when at full strength.

Ten Hag has repeatedly bent over backwards by putting performing players in unnatural positions if it means he doesn't have to play those out of form. Tyrell Malacia, Fred, Jadon Sancho and most of all Harry Maguire have found themselves on the bench watching on while a player from a different role has played in theirs.

"He’s got his finger on the pulse. He knows when the team is not