Erik ten Hag has already made a huge impact since joining Manchester United - and now some of the methods that the Dutchman has deployed in a bid to improve the culture at the club have been revealed.
Ten Hag arrived from Ajax in the summer fresh off winning a third Dutch title in four years. By contrast, United endured their worst-ever campaign in the Premier League era last term.
Although United's powers have significantly waned in recent years since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, the club have regressed rapidly since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer guided them to a second-placed finish back in the 2020/21 campaign.
Ten Hag endured a rocky start to his Old Trafford tenure, but results have improved significantly in recent weeks. The new United chief has also been commended by several players for instilling some much-needed discipline at the club - and it's now been revealed that a four-man leadership group implemented by Ten Hag to 'run the dressing room' has helped play a major role in improving the club's culture.
That's according to The Telegraph, where a report claims that the leadership group consists of club captain Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, David De Gea and Tom Heaton.
Even though Maguire has lost his spot in the first-team this season, he, Fernandes and De Gea are figures fans would expect to see involved in such a group; the inclusion of Heaton, United's third-choice goalkeeper, however, may come as a surprise.
Join the debate! Do you think Ten Hag has included the right people in his Man Utd leadership group? Let us know here.
Eyebrows were raised when Solskjaer moved to bring veteran shot-stopper back to Old Trafford last summer. Heaton, 36, is a product of the Manchester United academy but left the club back in 2010 after failing to make a single senior appearance.
Heaton, who has starred for Burnley and won full England honours since leaving the club, was finally handed his United bow in the Champions League by Ralf Rangnick last year - even if it was only a 22-minute cameo appearance.
And the recent arrival of Martin Dubravka, who joined United on a season-long loan deal from Newcastle United on deadline day, has pushed Heaton even further down the pecking order.
But Ten Hag clearly believes Heaton has a significant role to play for Manchester United off the pitch - something that Solskjaer also hinted heavily at last summer when he praised Heaton's exemplary professionalism.
"Tom is a Manchester United player,” Solskjaer said last year. "He’s been here and felt this is coming home and closing the circle. He’s had a very, very good career so far and been a part of the England set-up.
“For him to come in now, taking his challenge, I think is what he needed, that last step now. He’s such a top professional and such a top guy to have around and that will help the young lads."
