Erik ten Hag has done what Louis van Gaal couldn't on Manchester United tour

It hasn’t taken long for Erik ten Hag to impose himself at Manchester United, but the Dutchman isn’t getting his own way all the time.

The 52-year-old has become a forceful figure on the club’s pre-season tour, a 16-day odyssey through Bangkok, Melbourne and Perth, the fruits of which have been seen on the pitch. United won three of the four friendlies and only stumbled on the final night.

They have made clear strides under Ten Hag. They had plenty of training time in all three cities and return to Manchester today feeling encouraged at what they’ve seen.

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Ten Hag has made an impression on the players and the staff. One staff member described his thought process as “football, football, football” and he’s barely switched off on tour.

There was a meal out with staff and he did show a lighter side there, engaging with people about their families and lives away from the club, although such is his intensity it’s not always clear what is small talk and what is fact-finding.

Ten Hag has got what he wanted from this tour. In his first pre-season with the club, Louis van Gaal was critical of the travel involved and the difficulty in focusing on the football while there is so much jet-setting and commercial activity.

Van Gaal clearly still has a bee in his bonnet about that and he told Ten Hag to join a “football club and not a commercial club” when his compatriot was linked to United. Thankfully, Ten Hag did his due diligence and was happy with what he heard.

There has been plenty of travelling again this summer and the players have had to do their fair share of commercial work, but Ten Hag is pragmatic and he’s happy with what he’s achieved on the pitch.

“It is part of