Sir Alex Ferguson has lauded Erik ten Hag's signings as Manchester United manager and believes the Dutchman has "got a grip of the club" in a glowing review.
Ten Hag's side won the Carabao Cup final on Sunday after defeating Eddie Howe's Newcastle 2-0. First-half goals from Casemiro and Marcus Rashford secured Man Utd's first trophy for six years - less than a year after Ten Hag was appointed as manager.
Ten Hag was advised by his predecessor Ralf Rangnick to perform "open heart surgery" on Man Utd's squad, but he's made only a handful of signings. All of those stars have played an important role in adding their manager's name to the club's honours board.
Ten Hag signed Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro, Antony and Martin Dubravka last summer, while Jack Butland, Wout Weghorst and Marcel Sabitzer were brought in on loan in January. Dubravka returned to Newcastle in January.
"United is based on success," Ferguson told Sky Sports after congratulating Ten Hag on breaking his Man Utd trophy duck. "He's going the right way about it.
"His signings have been really good - I think that was important - and he's got a grip of the club, which is really big for him. When you come to United, you try to get off to a good start right away and he's doing well."
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Perhaps the most important signing was that of Casemiro. The Brazil international, who won the Champions League five times during his spell at Real Madrid, was named as the Man of the Match on Sunday to claim the Alan Hardaker Trophy.
Former Man Utd skipper Roy Keane was full of praise for Casemiro at full-time. He told Sky Sports: "He’s amazing and you have to get up close to him and see how good he is.
"He now understands the English game and if you look at the players at United, it looks like it is the first trophy that they have won, and these players are used to winning these trophies."
Ferguson was also keen to highlight the influence of Ten Hag's assistant Steve McClaren. The former England manager was Ferguson's No.2 at Man Utd between 1999 and 2001, when they won the Treble and three consecutive Premier League titles.
McClaren made a shock return to Old Trafford last summer to assume his current role. Ten Hag was McClaren's assistant during their time together at Dutch side Twente, and Ferguson believes the McClaren will have made a big impact on the squad.
Ferguson continued: "I think for Erik, he's got Steve McClaren. Steve was here with us for a few years, so that experience helps. I think Steve will play a big part in that [their success]."
