Uncertainty clouds Erik ten Hag’s pre-season at Manchester United

A fortnight watching United’s new manager, Erik ten Hag, leading training has revealed an intelligent man whose priority is to coach. The Dutchman’s emerging side play in free-flowing style and he has a sharp manner with the media. These are the absolute base materials for any manager to succeed at a club that remain the country’s record title holders but became a laughing stock last season. United’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa in Perth on Saturday night was the first failure to win in four tour matches in Thailand and Australia, fixtures in which United plundered 13 goals while conceding three times with a still-suspect defence. As Ten Hag knows, this is the phoney war. The real stuff starts when Brighton come to Old Trafford on 7 August before a trip to Brentford and the visit of Liverpool: two wins and a draw from those three games would be a fine start. Yet Ten Hag is still to work with Cristiano Ronaldo due to a family issue and his No 1 transfer target, Frenkie de Jong, wishes to remain at Barcelona. But Ten Hag’s job is to manage these headaches.

Anthony Martial has been a success on the pitch, scoring three times, and a lively presence who has surprised club insiders with a zest for life he does not always show. After last year’s lost season – half of which constituted an unsuccessful loan at Sevilla – Martial was a favourite to be sold this summer but Ronaldo’s desire to depart means Ten Hag needs the Frenchman and has closed the door on him leaving. If the manager has scant choice, a question can still be posed of his faith in the erratic Martial: will Ten Hag’s confidence be vindicated or will the belief he can succeed where others have failed come back to haunt him? Louis van Gaal, José Mourinho, Ole Gunnar