Erik ten Hag has been given the backing in the boardroom that most managers can only dream of.
Normally a manager would have to possess the sort of faith which Sir Alex Ferguson was able to create in order to dictate transfer policy like Ten Hag has. Manchester United's scouts were all in on Pau Torres and wanted the club to sign the Villarreal centre-back but the Dutchman was able to hold his own during discussions.
Ten Hag was adamant that he wanted Lisandro Martinez and lo and behold a few weeks later the former Ajax man arrived at the Theatre of Dreams. This, in many ways, is how a board and manager should interact.
