Rio Ferdinand says the vibe at Manchester United's training base has dramatically shifted.
The former United defender, winner of six Premier League titles, visited Carrington to interview Bruno Fernandes on Monday. While there, Ferdinand spoke to some of United's players, the staff and even took a gander through the building's corridors.
What the 44-year-old noticed blew him away, as he believes the positivity he witnessed is of stark contrast to previous visits to the training ground. Ferdinand, like many United fans, will have lived through some bleak times.
Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick failed to inspire the same way Erik ten Hag has, but few have had the opportunity to see things close up like the former England centre-back.
It seems that what is going on behind the scenes is on par with what United are achieving on the pitch. Under Ten Hag, United are still in the running for four trophies and sit third in the Premier League. The Dutchman is also getting the best out of a resurgent Marcus Rashford, who has recorded his best ever scoring season for United.
All these positives are indicative of a good training base, where United spend the majority of their time. "The vibes at Carrington and Old Trafford have changed dramatically," Ferdinand said on his YouTube show, FIVE.
"It's become more positive, the ambience in the place. The cafeteria has even changed. It's like everything has changed. Looks different, feels different, food's different. The feeling when you walk in, I've had very negative vibes [in the past] when I've walked through the corridors of the training ground.
"I was on my own, walking back out through the training ground, through the corridors, and I stood there and just smiled. I can sense something happening in here now. I don't what it is or where it's going to but the ambience is very different. There's a confidence in the place.
"And the confidence isn't about the players alone, it's the staff. I can sense something with the staff. They're more upbeat, happy to be in at work every day. And that's all been generated and created by Erik ten Hag and his management team and some people behind the scenes, because there's not one person who can change the whole culture of a football club - it's a collaborative approach.
"It's the right path right now and given they're in the running for four trophies still, not that I think they'll win four. It's nice to go to Carrington and Old Trafford and feel more optimistic than negative."
He added: "The vibe when they're out training, doing the rondos, there's a different energy that I haven't seen for a while, not that I've been there loads.
Tweeting about his trip on Monday, Ferdinand said: "Good being back at Carrington today...Great to see Kath - 56yrs at the club & still going strong!"
