Erik ten Hag has adorned himself to the Manchester United fanbase on multiple occasions already this season and the Dutchman's impassioned speech for Alejandro Garnacho and his family is yet more proof he is perfect for the club.
Garnacho penned a new five-year deal on Friday after a breakthrough season with the first team, his 29 appearances yielding four goals and four assists. Club and player were in talks for some time but eventually came to an agreement that will see the Argentinian remain a Red until at least 2028.
The 18-year-old and his family were at Carrington during the final signing process to get everything over the line. And in a video released by the club on Tuesday, were met by Ten Hag who spoke inside the Jimmy Murphy Centre of relishing these moments and using his talent to go all the way at club and international level.
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"I met your family, the most important people in your life," Ten Hag said to Garnacho, before speaking to the family directly. "It’s a big, big moment, so I [will say] some words. He is improving and he has improved a lot. That is why we are now here and he deserves this, a new contract. It is deserved by his performance and he has fought his way into the team.
"So, it was a huge step and he did magnificently. Now, I hope and I think this new contract is an inspiration and a motivation to do even better. Because it is a big step and today you deserve it. We have to do some celebrations and you have to do some celebrations with your family, they are the ones who are in your heart.
"This club needs players who can do incredible things. It is not only about 'we want to win'. Also, we want to win in a certain way. But winning is the most important and then we want to win in a certain way, because we are playing in the Theatre of Dreams. And then this club has to win trophies and you want to win trophies, because in the end a contract is great but in the end of a career you want to collect trophies.
"You want to look back and say 'I won the Premier League, I won the Champions League, I was at the World Cup'. I think he has the talent to do it but talent has to work, because talent that does not work will not go far. This is the start, a new start, a signed contract, and tomorrow new roles, new aims and go."
It was a rousing speech from the Dutchman and one loved by Reds supporters as much as Garnacho and his family. The young Argentinian has been frustrated at times this season, a lack of starts despite impact off the bench combining with a disagreement over his participation in the under-20 World Cup.
The tournament kicks off in Argentina on May 20, with Ten Hag adamant on keeping his young winger for the final week of the Premier League campaign and the FA Cup final the following weekend. Garnacho's frustration at being made unavailable has been well-documented, but the respect between manager and player was evident regardless.
In particular, Ten Hag's comments on winning the biggest honours at United and doing so 'in a certain way' typifies what the club have been missing in the years since Sir Alex Ferguson. Jose Mourinho and Louis Van Gaal both won trophies at Old Trafford, but neither came close to establishing a similar relationship with the fanbase.
Ten Hag won the silverware and has the bond to match already, before the end of his first season in charge. A relentless attitude towards driving high standards has seen him described as a perfect fit for United, and in his speech to the Garnacho family he has proved that to be true once again.
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