Manchester United's training drills under Erik ten Hag pay off in Melbourne Victory win

Another game and another four-goal win. Erik ten Hag's honeymoon period with Manchester United has been so blissfully serene the Glazer family might wonder whether a costly squad rebuild is necessary after all.

Ten Hag is in no mood to wax lyrical about United's progress. He skipped another post-match press conference, even when deprived of the suspicious excuse of a flight to catch as United are in Melbourne until Tuesday. Ten Hag's compatriot and predecessor, Louis van Gaal, milked his propitious pre-season tour eight years ago.

"Glory glory Man United" has been heard at full-time two games running now. Heady days. Nobody is getting giddy and had Ten Hag attended media obligations like every previous United manager he would have doubtless highlighted their shortcomings.

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Melbourne Victory was a significant step down from Liverpool but Ten Hag's team is taking shape in these exhibition occasions. Van Gaal treated pre-season as preparation for the season so seriously nine of the United starters in their first game on tour in 2015 lined up on the first day of the season. Ten Hag is also maintaining continuity with his own selection strategy.

There were only three changes, two of them enforced with David de Gea and Raphael Varane carrying injuries. Marcus Rashford, the bluntest of the forwards in Bangkok made way for Anthony Elanga, who was as ineffectual as against Liverpool.

It is a logical approach when there is a dearth of quality in United's squad depth. Better to ready Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot than Donny van de Beek and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, the latter unlikely to make the bench against Brighton three weeks on Sunday.

Ethan Laird was preferred over Aaron