Manchester United's first three summer transfers show Erik ten Hag is getting what he deserves

If there was one thing that Manchester United were short of prior to Erik ten Hag's arrival at Old Trafford just over a year ago, it was authority.

Player-power had dictated proceedings in M16 for far too long and United were in desperate need of appointing a manager who would show the players who was boss. In Ten Hag, United found the perfect candidate.

The Dutchman immediately asserted authority at Old Trafford, making it clear that he was in charge and nobody within his squad, however big their ego was, would be able to overrule him. Cristiano Ronaldo quickly found out that was the case, of course.

Ten Hag, last summer, took a liking to bringing in players that he had either worked with previously or were familiar to him from playing in the Netherlands. Lisandro Martinez and Antony followed him from Ajax, Tyrell Malacia checked in from Feyenoord and Christian Eriksen, many moons ago, had played for Ajax, meaning Ten Hag already knew a thing or two about him.

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The captures of Martinez and Antony, who were signed to go straight into the starting line-up, were considered huge gambles, not least because of their hefty-sized price tags. Though Antony has so far taken time to adjust to life in England, any doubts that anyone had about Ten Hag adding Martinez to his squad were almost instantly quashed.

Considering he got the bulk of his transfer business right last summer and United achieved a top-four finish and won the Carabao Cup, Ten Hag has earned the right to be both trusted and backed by those higher up the chain at Old