The 24-word conclusion to Manchester United's statement that they had agreed to part ways with Cristiano Ronaldo made it clear that Erik ten Hag was in charge - and no amount of Ballon d'Or awards were ever going to change that.
"Everyone at Manchester United remains focused on continuing the team’s progress under Erik ten Hag and working together to deliver success on the pitch."
The "progress" that the blunt statement referred to has been undeniable under the Dutchman. The turbulent start to the season has seen Ten Hag flourish as a manager, with the former Ajax man using the defeats to both Brighton and Brentford as motivation to ensure his side never repeat the same mistakes again.
