Manchester United have made a promising start to life under new manager Erik ten Hag, beating Liverpool 4-0 and Melbourne Victory 4-1 in friendlies.
Red Devils fans are desperate for the team to improve after last season's disappointing sixth-placed finish in the Premier League. They haven't won a trophy since their Europa League triumph five years ago, making this their most unsuccessful era for four decades.
The early signs on the pitch are good, but what's happening behind the scenes? Here, Mirror Football has collated everything that's been said about the Dutchman's methods since his appointment in May... and it's good news for long-suffering United fans.
Marcus Rashford
Rashford endured the worst goal return of his professional career last season - finding the back of the net just five times in all competitions - and is keen to get back into the England side ahead of this year's World Cup after being dropped by Gareth Southgate.
"I think for me, it is just fresh ideas, fresh tactics and a new personality that has been added to the team," Rashford told MUTV. "I am looking forward to working with him [Ten Hag].
"It has been tough, but we have all enjoyed the training sessions and we are mixing it up as well. We are not just doing all football and all running, we are doing a little bit of both so it’s fun and it’s good signs looking forward.
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"He is very detailed out on the grass and even in the rules of each game. Like I said, it is all fresh and when something is fresh it is good for the mind and good for the body, so we are all looking forward to working with him and hopefully we continue to improve."
Rashford added: "I think the first two, two-and-a-half weeks of training have been good; we have improved a lot and we are a lot fitter than we were last season. I know we are still making mistakes along the way but we have a lot of room for improvement."
Harry Maguire
United's captain was heavily criticised last season for their leaky defence - which conceded 69 goals in all competitions - and is hoping to rediscover the form he displayed during his first two campaigns at Old Trafford and for England at Euro 2020.
"It’s been tough," Maguire told reporters during United's pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia. "The running has been hard but we’re really looking forward to the season.
"Everyone – the players, the club – know last year was nowhere near good enough but it’s a fresh start and we’ve got a big season ahead. Erik and his coaching staff are bringing their ideas and the first two games you’ve seen little glimpses of the principals.
"We’re working towards being ready for that first Premier League game, that’s what matters. Everything we’re doing now is building for that first game."
Bruno Fernandes
Fernandes is another United player looking to regain his form under Ten Hag (notice a theme occurring?) after scoring 10 goals last season. He was electric during his first 18 months at Old Trafford, finding the back of the net 40 times under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
"It [training] has been pretty intense," Fernandes told MUTV. "He likes intense training, reactions when you lose the ball. He likes everyone to run. He's been really good.
"Everyone is enjoying [it], obviously. Everyone gets really tired at the end of the training but that's what we have to do. 'We have to be like that at the end of the training, but then you know the training was really good. As I said, we have to do the hard work because, if we do it now, then we will be fit for the beginning of the season."
Scott McTominay
The Scotland international is known for his work rate... so it's no surprise he's enjoying Ten Hag's exhausting training sessions.
"Everyone’s so, so happy with the new coach in terms of the detail and attention to the work that we’re doing, and everyone’s so fit now," he told MUTV. "And we can get fitter, I can get fitter, the whole team can, which is obviously a benefit for the future as well."
McTominay went on to say: "We have had some tough pre-seasons but this has been up there with the most difficult ones. It is an accumulation. It is getting miles into the legs and getting people accustomed to the work we want to do.
"There are a lot of different ideas and variations. He is very clear in meetings about what he wants us to do and how he wants to approach the games. It is important we take that message on board."
Victor Lindelof
Like his teammates, Lindelof is also enjoying Ten Hag's sessions.
"It’s been very good," he told MUTV. "I think the training... I think we have stepped up a lot and it’s hard like it should be in pre-season, and he demands a lot and I think it’s been absolutely great, so yeah, a pleasure."
Lindelof added: "It’s pre-season, you have to work hard, you have to get the fitness level up and of course, he demands that from us. I think that’s exactly how it should be. Because if you want to improve, if you want to be better, then you have to work hard."
The defender continued: "We’ve been working on a lot of different things. A lot with the ball, and what type of football he wants to play, so of course, we’ve been working on it, and we’ve seen quite a lot of new things that he wants us to do."
Luke Shaw
The England international struggled for fitness towards the end of last season but is hoping to hit the ground running this coming term after Ten Hag's intense workouts.
"It’s clear that he's a top, top manager," Shaw told MUTV. "He has a structure to play the way he wants us to play. We haven’t had that for quite a while, and it was clear to see last season, which was extremely disappointing. We have to bounce back [from last season] and he has been working us extremely hard, but I think we need it."
Shaw added: "I think he obviously knows what the team needs and he has his own style of how he wants to manage, but I think all of the players have taken it on board and are really enjoying it. He is very hands-on and takes a lot of the sessions; he is involved a lot.
"You have seen that if people are not hitting the standards that he wants in training he will make sure they know and I think that is good because it keeps the standards high. That is a good thing. But, like I have said, there is still a lot more to come from us and this is only the start."
Fred
The Brazilian midfielder covered a lot of ground in the Premier League last season and is expecting more of the same under Ten Hag.
"It’s really important for us to have a strong coach who has the last word alongside us," Fred told MUTV. "It gives us security and helps us a lot. He’s very detailed in his work, he has his own fine details. All the day-to-day details. It’s really good for our daily work. Everyone on the pitch has to give their all to help the team."
Fred added: "We really hope he can do a great job here and are fully behind him. We’re looking to achieve a lot, great things, and I’m sure we’ll achieve this. He’s a great coach. Training is good, intense. We’re aiming to put what he says into our daily training. I hope we can win things in the future."
Anthony Elanga
Elanga was one of the few United players to impress under ex-boss Ralf Rangnick and has acknowledged the team weren't fit enough last season.
"We know we weren’t as fit last season," Elanga told reporters. "I think we're even fitter this season, running for the team, running off the ball and running with the ball. That element of running and pressing is really important.
"That’s one of the things the manager has brought into the team and we are really buying into it. I feel like the whole team can press. It’s all in the mind - if you want to do it, you can do it. It’s a new style that we’ve got. It’s different now."
Elanga added: "I feel like everyone wants to impress, especially now we’ve got a new manager, new system and a new style. It's important everyone tries to impress and it starts in pre-season... I want to be able to take my game to the next level.
“I want to build on what I did last season and make it even better. When I say take my game to the next level, I want to be able to score more goals and make more assists.
“I want to affect the games, be a danger player, be a starter for United, which I think is a dream for any young lad coming through the academy. That’s what I’m trying to achieve, to aim for. I just want to keep on doing what I’m doing, and work even harder."
