Ralph Hasenhüttl, the Southampton manager, says he can already see a clear template of how Manchester United intend to set up under Erik ten Hag.
After a slow start under the Dutchman, United roared back to life thanks to a 2-1 win over Liverpool on Monday night. That silenced many of the doubters who jumped on the new boss and his players after back-to-back defeats to Brighton and Brentford.
Speaking ahead of Saturday (August 27) lunchtime's Premier League meeting between the two at St Mary's – a ground where United have tasted defeat just once since its opening in 2001 – Saints' chief Hasenhüttl says he can see a "clear identity" of how Ten Hag wants his team to play.
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He said: "They're a team with a new manager and after a not very long pre-season where the new manager has to wait and every new player is coming in and having the whole squad available to give your ideas to develop them.
"It is not surprising that it doesn't work immediately and everything isn't perfect.
"(But) I see a very clear identity of what they want to do now. It's something you can see, a clear identity. They showed that in the last game and they showed they're a strong team.
"You are speaking about a top team who are going for titles and can still do that this season. If you beat Liverpool at home it's a big message to everybody that they're in a good way. I see a clear identity with what they want to do. After all their pre-season problems, this win was important for them."
Casemiro became United's fourth summer signing earlier this week and the former Real Madrid man could be handed his maiden outing on the south coast. Ten Hag's opposite number says that the addition of the Brazilian only adds to the uncertainty of how United will set up at the weekend.
Hasenhüttl added: "Sometimes changes are tactical and it makes it difficult to be sure what we are facing. Even if Casemiro is playing, it is not so clear in what way they'll play. We definitely are facing a strong team and in the end it is up to us to play the way we want to go."
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