Rio Ferdinand has praised Erik ten Hag for instilling a culture change inside Manchester United with the squad now full of leaders.
The Dutchman has overseen a seismic change of fortunes in Manchester, with United on course for a Champions League finish and preparing for a first chance at silverware in Sunday's Carabao Cup final clash with Newcastle. The Reds have so far gone unbeaten in what was tipped as a season-defining February, with the trip to Wembley and Thursday's Europa League second-leg against Barcelona the pick of the bunch.
Results on the pitch have stemmed from the work in training and a culture change brought about by Ten Hag. The Dutchman has made some ruthless decisions since arriving last summer, and the improvement in form has justified decisions and embedded trust and positivity in the squad.
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"The vibes at Carrington and Old Trafford have changed dramatically," Ferdinand told FIVE. "When you walk in there, I’ve had very very negative vibes over the years, it's been quite negative when I've walked through the corridors and I walked through there today and, you know when you've got a little smile, I was on my own walking back out and I stood there and smiled a little bit.
"I can sense something happening now, I don’t know what it is and what it is going to get to but the ambience is very different, the confidence throughout the place. The confidence isn't about the players alone, it's the staff. I can sense with the staff that they’re confident, happy to be at work every day, and that's all been generated by Erik ten Hag and his team.
"It's not one person that is able to change a whole culture, it's a group, it's a collective approach. They are on the right path right now and given they’re in the running for four trophies - not that I think they'll win four - they've been fantastic of late. It's nice to go to Carrington and Old Trafford and I feel more optimistic than negative."
A hallmark of previously successful United sides - and a clear absence in recent seasons - has been leaders. Sir Alex Ferguson always stressed his desire to have a team of 11 captains which was typified by the likes of Ferdinand, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt, as well as others who never actually wore the armband.
Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro have added that in abundance since joining in the summer, but Ferdinand believes a number of players who preceded Ten Hag have since found their own voice.
"At United, what we've been crying out for over the years is character, leaders," Ferdinand added. "Not a leader or a character, you want a number of them. You look through the team now, David de Gea, character, Luke Shaw has come back from the dead with other managers and now he’s a mainstay. The two centre-halves, Martinez and Varane, are leaders.
"Casemiro, I don't have to say anything about him. Bruno is leading and got the armband, Rashford’s leading by example with the confidence and the goals. The spine of the team has characters and because they're starting to win and built confidence and form, you're starting to see the best of it and that's all backed and pushed by management."
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