Erik ten Hag is already sending the right messages to Manchester United players

Erik ten Hag won't be meeting his Manchester United players until the final week of June but on his first day in the job he was already trying to get them on side.

Most of the United squad have jetted off for a holiday after the denouement of a desperate season but those that will be here next season would have had one eye on Old Trafford yesterday. In a press conference lasting a little less than 20 minutes, Ten Hag certainly said the right things to try and start rebuilding unity and spirit within his fractured squad.

United's players had become accustomed to watching press conferences from behind the sofa under Ralf Rangnick. The German become a fan favourite because of his unfiltered analysis in front of the cameras, but there was a feeling his critical comments were also hiding his own failings in the dugout and on the training pitches at Carrington.

READ MORE: What Ten Hag did on his first day as United manager

As Rangnick's reign turned from disappointing to disastrous his openness in front of the media began to create issues. Club officials weren't always keen on his long answers, which would occasionally lead him into troubled waters, and players weren't impressed with some of his comments.

In the embargoed section of his press conference before United played Arsenal on April 23, Rangnick said the squad required "open-heart surgery". Those comments were only made public at 10.30pm on Friday but by the time of United's Saturday lunchtime game at the Emirates Stadium the squad were aware of what had been said and unimpressed by the content.

They had no such reason to fear Ten Hag's first appearance in front of the camera. The 52-year-old clearly has no intention of using any more words than are absolutely