Erik ten Hag has brought Sir Alex Ferguson quality back to Manchester United

Erik ten Hag’s expectations are clear: Give 100 per cent and show character.

These are elements that have not always been present in Manchester United teams over the past decade, and something last year’s squad was chastised over. The qualities that made United so feared during Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign had dissipated and been replaced with an air of toxicity.

Ten Hag noticed the air of disequilibrium when he walked through the door. Speaking in January, he said: “Manchester United didn't exactly have the fear factor last season. There was no spirit. I saw no team dynamic in the squad. The mental resilience was very low.

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"I saw that as an outsider - and also noticed it in my first weeks at the club. I looked at the culture of the club. I asked ‘how did Manchester United become great?’ And for me, it was about Sir Alex Ferguson.

“His teams excelled in togetherness, collectivity, spirit. You just couldn't beat them. When we get players, you look at their quality and technical skills. But you also look at their mental quality, that mental resilience - and we had to bring that back.”

And bring that back he has. United have lost just one Premier League game at home all season, seeing off Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City at Old Trafford. Even Barcelona couldn’t hack it. The Theatre of Dreams has turned into a crucible again.

Ten Hag has also implemented some discipline. His reprimanding of superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in October sent a message to the rest of the squad that no-one is above the club - a phrase Sir Alex used several times. These high standards galvanised the squad, which seemingly only enhanced once Ronaldo left.

That’s not to say the ride