“We had to bring that back” – Erik ten Hag admits following Sir Alex Ferguson’s tactic at Manchester United in summer

Erik ten Hag has admitted that he focused on bringing back three key attributes from Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United teams to his squad during the summer.

The Dutchman arrived at Old Trafford following one of the worst Premier League seasons for the club after the mid-season sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the inability of Ralf Rangnick to steer the ship back in the right direction afterwards.

“We have a plan and now it’s about getting the plan done, to get it into process,” explained Ten Hag in his opening press conference back in May. Now, with The Reds in the top four and showing signs of becoming a very good team, he’s still focused on implementing the next steps of that plan.

“You can always do better,” added the manager ahead of United’s fixture against Nottingham Forest two weeks ago. “When you’re satisfied, that can bring you to laziness — I don’t want that.”

Ten Hag has brought life into a squad that was soulless last term. But where did the improvements come from?

Firstly, it was a cultural change that needed to occur. The Dutchman admits to taking inspiration from the great Sir Alex Ferguson teams. Not a bad place to start.

“There was no spirit. I saw no team dynamic in the squad. The mental resilience was very low,” admitted Ten Hag, explaining the situation he walked into at the club. “I saw that as an outsider – and also noticed it in my first weeks. I looked at the culture of the club. I asked ‘how did Manchester United become great?’

“For me, it was about Sir Alex Ferguson. His teams excelled in togetherness, collectivity, spirit. You just couldn’t beat them.

“United always had top strikers like Cantona, Cole, Sheringham, Yorke, Van Nistelrooy, Van Persie. And top goalkeepers like Schmeichel, Van der Sar, De Gea.

In the centre, there were big personalities like Jaap Stam, Vidic, Rio Ferdinand. And always a strategist in midfield. Roy Keane, the boss. Paul Scholes, a magnificent footballer and personality.

And think of players like Ryan Giggs or David Beckham. That’s the culture of Manchester United. I looked at that very carefully and then saw that last season’s team looked fragile and vulnerable.”

The solution was identified: United needed signings who would improve the squad both on and off the pitch — it doesn’t sound so difficult but Ten Hag, alongside every fan of the club, realises the problems the club have faced in this department previously.

“The club have bought an unimaginable number of players in recent years who have not been good enough.

“Most purchases have been average – and at United average is not good enough. United’s shirt weighs heavily. Only real personalities, who can perform under great pressure, can play here.”

This has been stressed by the manager on a number of occasions lately, especially when asked about the club potentially strengthening their forward line during the January transfer window. “The criteria is high at Manchester United.”

In the summer, patience was tested during the chase of Frenkie de Jong but United and Ten Hag delivered five signings that are showing their importance for the club already.

“When we get players, you look at their quality and technical skills. But you also look at their mental quality, that mental resilience – and we had to bring that back,” explained the manager.

“We needed personalities. That’s why the acquisition of Casemiro was so important. Along with Raphael Varane, we now have a second player who has experience of winning titles.

“Malacia, Martinez, Casemiro, Antony are all fighters, while Christian Eriksen is a technical winner and a great personality. We want the best of the best. Any players we bring to Manchester United must meet the highest standard.”