Manchester United's 25-man squad list omissions show what Erik ten Hag is doing right

Slowly but surely, Erik ten Hag is transforming Manchester United's fortunes.

Following a disastrous 2021/22 campaign, the Dutchman was handed the task of resurrecting one of the world's biggest sporting institutions. Nothing could have possibly prepared him for the challenge he was about to take on.

But despite encountering one or two bumps in the road since his arrival in May 2022, Ten Hag, by and large, has got United moving in the right direction again. He ended their six-year wait for a trophy last season, guided them back into the Champions League and, perhaps most importantly, restored standards and gave the club an identity again.

Dealing with a wide variety of unexpected issues and obstacles along the way, Ten Hag can look back on his time at Old Trafford so far with a sense of pride. The club is in a far better position, certainly on the footballing side of the operation, than prior to his arrival.

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Through elite-level coaching and mostly sensible recruitment, United, even though it does not necessarily feel like it after an underwhelming start to the season, are continuing to move in the right direction. Ten Hag has earned the trust of the fans and there is a sense of optimism that he will be at the helm for the long term, overseeing a long-term strategy to take the club back to the top of both English and European football.

Though a change in ownership will be vital in making those aspirations possible, United can take comfort from the fact they have the building blocks in place to build something special over the coming years. They already have a core group of players who are capable of competing at the highest level, as well as a manager