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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Jack Flintham

Nicky Butt explains why Erik ten Hag had such a big impact on Manchester United dressing room

Nicky Butt has claimed one of the keys to Erik ten Hag's successful first season at Manchester United has been his ability to command respect.

After a difficult start to his tenure, Ten Hag managed to steady the ship at Old Trafford, overseeing a Carabao Cup triumph over Newcastle as well as a return to the Champions League. Ultimately, the season would end in disappointment for the Reds as they lost the FA Cup final to Manchester City.

However, Butt believes the foundations are in place for United to build next season. Speaking to the club's official website ahead of Sunday's Soccer Aid match, the Class of '92 graduate explained: "For me, the most impressive thing is his mannerisms, the way he portrays himself, the way he engages himself with the local area.

"I've seen him where I live most days, so he's really warmed to the culture of Manchester and the people and, on the football side, from what I know - obviously, I'm not in the building now - is everyone knows who the boss is. I think that's important at a football club with so many big egos and big superstars around, you need to know who the boss is, and it certainly looks like everyone knows it's him.

ALSO READ: Ten Hag has seven players fighting for two positions

"I think [this season] it's [been] a massive boost for every Man United fan really. They are performing in the right direction; they've got a manager in charge who definitely knows what he's doing but also, he's the boss and everyone knows that.

"It's something that Man United fans are excited about. There's still a long way to go, if I'm honest, to get to where we want to be but it's a massive step forward for the football club."

A Manchester Evening News special souvenir edition - Fergie's First - charts United's 1992/93 title-winning campaign and you can get your hands on one here

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