Erik ten Hag’s first tour as Manchester United boss provided a fascinating insight into the new era at Old Trafford.
Four games in three locations - Bangkok, Melbourne and Perth - afforded Ten Hag the chance to get to know his squad and prepare them for the new season ahead.
In terms of results - three wins and a draw - and no injuries, the tour could not have gone much better for Ten Hag, who used the
two-and-a-half week trip to impart his playing philosophy and ensure his players are fit enough to carry out his high-pressing style.
Here, Mirror Football looks at five things we learned from United’s debut tour under ten Hag and this correspondent’s 19th with the club.
Football is sacrosanct
Pre-season tours with United are a balance between football training, matches, travel commercial, media and charity obligations. Former bosses, in particular Louis van Gaal, complained the commercial duties undermined the football element of such tours.
Ten Hag, who had listened to his Dutch compatriot’s views before taking the United job, made sure that was not the case. The message from every member of the United touring party, from club officials to coaching staff, was that football came first for ten Hag, with none of the external activities allowed to undermine training, fitness and tactical work.
Commercial duties for players were scaled back, while in Melbourne Ten Hag vetoed a proposed visit by players to the set of the popular Australian soap Neighbours, because it compromised their training schedule. As Ten Hag said in his unveiling as United manager: “Football is one, two and three.” Never was that more evident than on the tour.
Discipline has been restored
Last season, United’s campaign was allowed be derailed by weak management, firstly from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and then his
replacement, interim boss Ralf Rangnick. Cliques and divisions developed within the squad, certain players put their own agendas and
needs above those of the squad, manifesting itself non a sixth-placed finish with United’s lowest-ever Premier League points return.
Ten Hag immediately identified standards had slipped and set about restoring them. Fines for late arrival to training and meetings, no mobile phones at mealtimes and players eating together three times a day were among the measures introduced by ten Hag to restore spirit, unity and discipline to the squad.
A proactive style with a high line
Tactically, Ten Hag has described his playing style as “proactive with a high line” with his side pressing opponents to win back the ball whenever they lose possession. To implement such a style requires players to be at the peak of their fitness, which is why Ten Hag insisted on double training sessions at the start of the pre-season tour, to get his players to a level of physical condition where they have the stamina to carry out ten Hag’s approach.
The high defensive line was a feature of United’s style in tour, and will take time for the players to adjust to, with Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof caught out in the second game, when Melbourne Victory scored after five minutes, United’s central defenders hopelessly out of position.
The full-backs are encouraged to overlap going forward as well as coming inside, which requires them to be able to cover a lot of ground throughout 90 minutes. But all the signs were that United’s players have bought into the way of playing.
Martial and Sancho were the tour winners
Two players who endured miserable times last season, Anthony Martial and Jadon Sancho were rejuvenated on the summer tour, both scoring three goals and thriving under the tutelage of Ten Hag and his coaching staff. Martial, who scored once for United last season before going on loan to Sevilla, where he also managed a solitary goal, looked sharp and hungry throughout the tour, his questionable attitude and indolent approach consigned to the past.
Sancho was just as bright, linking up well with fellow forwards Martial, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, suggesting he has overcome his difficult debut season and is ready to fulfil his potential, following his £75million move from Borussia Dortmund.
Ronaldo may find it hard to win back his place
The spectre of Cristiano Ronaldo hung over United throughout their pre-season tour. Whenever he was asked about Ronaldo, absent from the tour for family reasons but his future unclear after his camp let it be known he was open to a move, Ten Hag straight-batted all the questions.
The club’s stance had not changed - Ronaldo was not for sale - and Ten Hag’s only focus was on the players with him on tour
and getting them prepared for the new season. This week, however, United will need to provide clarity on Ronaldo’s position, with the
squad back in training on Tuesday, having returned from Australia on Sunday, and the new season less than two weeks away.
The way United’s front four interlinked on tour, Ronaldo is likely to find it hard to get back into the team straight away, if the quarter can take their pre-season form into the new season. In addition, Ten Hag will not want the saga of Ronaldo’s future to overshadow the start of his tenure and the first few games in charge, so a resolution must be found as swiftly as possible.
