Manchester United know they have a lot of work to do to make up the ground they lost last season, and those in power have decided Erik ten Hag is the man to achieve that goal.
There is hope that the former Ajax boss will provide some solidity as well as a winning mentality, after a season of turmoil at Old Trafford. Last year's struggles under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick will hopefully be a thing of the past, with Ten Hag arriving off the back of yet another Eredivisie win in charge of Ajax.
Ten Hag has already made additions to his squad, bringing in Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez. However, the personnel changes aren't the only area where he is making his presence felt.
Ripping up the rulebook
It might not feel like a big move, but Ten Hag's dugout demand is just one way in which the new manager has made his presence felt. The manager has called for a change to the home and away dugouts ahead of the new season, with United now occupying what was a space for the away side in years gone by.
The move is at Ten Hag's behest, and will bring the United bench closer to the home support, the Manchester Evening News has noted. It marks a change to a situation which has been the norm since the days of Alex Ferguson, and emphasises how this is very much Ten Hag's team now.
"In a new lay-out agreed with Erik, the home and away dugouts have been permanently switched so that the United manager, staff and substitutes will now be sat in the seats to the west of the half-way line – the dugout previously occupied by the away team," a club statement read. "Erik approved the move after visiting Old Trafford for the first time in May and noting how the old away dugout was closer to the tunnel, and to the half of the pitch where substitutes warm up."
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Training with a focus
Ten Hag reportedly ordered the grass at United's training ground to be trimmed, in order to better execute his passing plans. However, that's not the only area where he's made fresh demands.
“Ten Hag is all about training the brain,” a source close to the manager explained. “United’s players will do plenty of running - but they will run with the ball rather than just being asked to sprint up sand dunes.”
If United are to succeed this season, the players will quickly need to fall in line with the new manager's methods. For Ten Hag, this means making things very clear when that isn't happening.
During an early training session, the new boss was seen barking instructions at those who failed to do what he had asked of them. It has already seemingly reaped benefits, with Zidane Iqbal impressing Ten Hag on the pitch after being called out early on.
Calling out stars and phone demands
During Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's time in charge, there was a feeling from some quarters that the Norwegian was too nice to United's players. It was a criticism levelled at him by predecessor Jose Mourinho, while it also came up among pundits during the end of the former Cardiff City boss' tenure.
There have been clear rules off the field, too, with players banned from bringing phones with them to team meals. It might seem small, but the attention to detail is a clear sign that he knows what he wants.
It's not just here where Ten Hag has made his feelings clear. The first summer in charge can be one where a new man makes clear what he will and won't stand for, and the boss was vocal after Cristiano Ronaldo was among those to leave early during last weekend's friendly against Rayo Vallecano.
"I certainly don't condone this," he said, "This is unacceptable. For everyone. We are a team and you have to stay until the end."
Fast-tracking exits
Earlier in the summer, Arsenal technical director Edu spoke of the need to offload players - sometimes for nothing - rather than keep them around and risk them upsetting the dressing room atmosphere. Two players suspected of being the source of leaks have now left United, and there may be more movement under Ten Hag's watch.
Alex Telles was involved with a training ground bust-up with Hannibal Mejbri las summer, and the Brazilian is now on his way to Sevilla. He's one of as many as six fringe players who may be moved on.
Building the squad you want isn't just about the players you bring in. By the end of the window, there's every chance it will begin to look like a group carved in Ten Hag's image.
Bringing back exiles
While some have been offloaded and others might follow, Ten Hag has shown his players there's always a chance to impress. James Garner and Ethan Laird have featured in pre-season after loans last term, but perhaps the best example is Anthony Martial.
The Frenchman looked to have no future at Old Trafford last season when he joined Sevilla on loan and struggled to make an impact in La Liga. However, after impressing on tour, he was a potential starter for the Premier League opener before injury struck.
Few players ever land at Manchester United without having something about them, but it's down to the manager to unlock that quality. The idea of someone being 'like a new signing' has become a cliche, but it may well feel that way if Ten Hag can get the former Monaco man back to his best.
