Former centre-back Rio Ferdinand has urged Erik ten Hag to install a culture that everyone at Manchester United buys into ahead of him taking charge this summer.
Ten Hag, last week, was officially announced as United's new permanent manager, with a view to taking charge ahead of the start of next season. He has put pen to paper on a deal until the summer of 2025, with the option of an additional year.
United's problems have worsened significantly this season, highlighting why their Champions League hopes are all but dead and buried. Performances and the attitudes of a number of players have been significantly criticised throughout he campaign, meaning big changes need to be introduced this summer.
READ MORE: Erik ten Hag must test Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's transfer prediction at Manchester United
Ten Hag, who is 52, has landed the United job off the back of his success at Ajax, which has seen him follow a strict philosophy and create a collective culture that everyone has abided by. He is a believer of everyone singing in harmony and for former United defender Ferdinand, it is vitally important that Dutchman installs a collective culture.
"I talk about the culture all the time, and that's number one on my list," Ferdinand told Vibe with Five. "The culture has to be right, because you need to see, first and foremost, a work ethic.
"You need to see a culture of people not wanting to get beat. You need to see a culture of it (losing) hurting people. You need to see a culture of discipline in the group, nothing getting out. Stuff that we've got in the papers, the manager (Sir Alex Ferguson) would pull the squad in immediately, and I don't think this happens now."
Ferdinand, of course, played at United under old-school manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who was renowned for expecting very high standards both on and off the pitch.
On what would have happened under Ferguson if the current issues had happened then, Ferdinand added: "The manager would get that squad in, tight group, get in a circle. ‘What’s going on here? If I find out who is leaking stories to the media.'
"You're standing there thinking: 'I hope and I'm going to find out that no one in my team has spoken to anyone in the media, because I haven't.' At the moment, there's a mole in the camp. There's leaks coming out far too often that suggests this squad ain't like that (puts hands together). This squad ain't there (tight-knit).
"Setting the culture is just an absolute gimme. It's an absolute must.
"You can’t have a culture at the club, which is right now, of players aren't in fear of bad performances. The culture at the football club isn’t that of fear of disappointing the hierarchy, the manager, and stuff like that.
"It's like: 'I don’t play well, it's not my fault, it's his.' There's no repercussions. At the moment, at the football club, there aren't consequences for actions on and off the pitch."
Sign up to our United newsletter so you never miss an update from Old Trafford this season.
