Erik ten Hag has not only transformed Manchester United's results this season but the mood in the dressing room – which is now a show of unity rather than division.
Not only are damaging leaks no longer frequently emerging from the United dressing room but the entire squad is pulling in one direction and have forged a strong bond. The difference from the chaos Ten Hag inherited could be seen in a recent on-pitch argument between Antony and Bruno Fernandes.
The two attacking stars exchanged angry words during the draw away to Crystal Palace earlier this month, but while in recent seasons this may have been indicative of a clash of egos without dressing-room leadership – this was a mutual show of frustration based on their will to win.
Ten Hag has reinforced discipline at United this season, with the number of first-team player exits from last season’s squad mish-mash in double figures while he has brought in a half-a-dozen new signings to transform the mood.
The Dutchman’s discipline could be seen when he dropped star striker Marcus Rashford for the New Year's Eve trip to Wolves due to sleeping in and missing a team meeting. This was not a serious offence but it was a breach of Ten Hag’s squad rules, and his message was telling.
Rashford has been United’s best player this season and benching him showed that no player was above the manager, while the boss also had the awareness to know this would prompt a positive reaction from the striker. The England international netted the winner at Molineux and has been unstoppable in the weeks since.
Have Your Say! How would you rate Ten Hag's job as Man Utd boss so far? Tell us what you think here.
Ten Hag will not have been concerned by the on-field argument between Antony and Fernandes. As with Rashford, he knows their personalities – both are fiery and show their emotions frequently on the pitch, and their words had no adverse impact on their performances.
Indeed, the boss has frequently been praised since in his media appearances. Speaking of Antony, Ten Hag said after Saturday’s win over Reading: "I think he's growing. We want him to be also more dynamic, more variable and more direct. You see today I think [it] was a lovely pass on the first goal.
"It was a good combination - a Brazilian combination, Antony and Casemiro - so we are happy with his improvement in this moment. But yeah there still is more to come and I think he's capable of it, I think it's big potential in him and he has to develop it every day."
That followed on from the manager’s other recent comments of the Brazilian, in which he said: "I think he is not losing games. When he is playing and the team is winning and that already gives a message of how well he is performing.
"He can do better, I see space for improvement and, for instance – and I think you notice – we want him to be more direct, more involved. But the team is performing better if he is on the pitch and that is a good thing, a good base to build further on.
Ten Hag added: "I think he already makes improvement, he scored some goals, he scored in his first three games, now he scores against Everton and Charlton, so he has an impact. But I think with his capabilities, with his talents he can do even more. He has a good contribution in the team."
Fernandes is another player who is fine form, having found the net against Manchester City, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest. The Portugal ace is one of the first names on Ten Hag’s teamsheet.
"A few weeks ago he [ Bruno Fernandes ] was criticised for his performance,” Ten Hag explained to Sky Sports earlier this month ahead of United’s trip to Arsenal. "I told him to stay calm, that the goals will come and to keep doing what he knows how to do because it's important for the team and now he's on two goals in two games.
"I am convinced that if we continue this collective process he will score more, but the basis is always the skills he has. “And there are not many players who are as good in transition as Bruno."
