The managerial doubt is over - Erik ten Hag will be the man to lead Manchester United into next season.
Those at Old Trafford presided over a review of the club's worst ever Premier League season and decided to stick by the Dutchman - but huge improvements will be needed over the next 12 months.
The capture of a trophy means that Ten Hag has landed silverware in each of the two seasons he's been in charge, but they have covered for flaws in the league and in Europe. They will need to be addressed if United are to realise the ambitions Sir Jim Ratcliffe has for them.
So far under Ten Hag's guidance the Red Devils have finished third and then eighth. They've occasionally put together big performances against their top six opponents, but that's often been followed by disappointment or inconsistent results.
Ratcliffe has a proven track record of overseeing leading sporting outfits. He's aided Mercedes in Formula 1 as they dominated and the INEOS cycling team as they conquered the Tour de France. The billionaire has already bought in some able lieutenants who have footballing expertise - which the club has lacked - and they will help Ten Hag build a winning outfit.
World Cup hero wants Man Utd move as doubts over Harry Maguire's future grow
With that in mind, we take a deep dive in how we'd handle this summer and beyond if the red half of Manchester is to rule England again..
Embrace the hierarchy
Yes every manager wants the world, but the era of the manager being king at a football club are largely gone. Bar Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, it doesn't really exist.
The worst thing any club can have is their manager sitting in press conference making subtle digs about how he'd be so much better off if the club had listened to him and signed that extra player or two. No one wins and its terrible optics.
Jason Wilcox is part of the backroom staff at Old Trafford (Getty Images)Ten Hag will have a winning chief executive in Omar Berrada. A savvy technical director in Jason Wilcox, who previously oversaw the City academy that helped produce Phil Foden. Dan Ashworth's arrival is expected. When - we don't know as Newcastle dig their heels in.
The United boss needs to lean on the expertise above him. Don't be close minded, after all someone needs to remind the Dutchman that his success rate in the transfer market is incredibly low, so maybe its time to show some humility and make some changes.
Jurgen Klopp initially wanted to sign Julian Brandt in the summer of 2017 before those working with him suggested he take a strong look at Mohamed Salah. That turned out alright.
Recruitment has been, by a country mile, the biggest failing at Old Trafford. That can be somewhat attributed to the people above the manager making the decisions, few of them having an elite football CV. Now those kind of people exist at Old Trafford and it would be pointless to ignite some kind of civil war if you don't get your first choice centre-half this summer.
Think about the dressing room
It might be easy to say with hindsight, but you look at the players United bring into the club, within six months, maybe a year you're thinking why?
Take Casemiro, yes he was excellent in his first season, but from the minute he signed the length of his contract rang alarm bells. It went a bit quiet after his good campaign but within weeks of his second season and the volume was ramped up. Now United have an expensive asset they need to rid of.
The dynamics and make up of the dressing room has been criticised previouslyBeyond that, you have the impact on the dressing room. Morale, cohesiveness and all the intangibles that make a great team exactly that. The decision to consider offloading Scott McTominay last summer was laughable. Yes technically he may not be elite, but great teams need grafters, they need players who know what it means to support the club.
Marcus Rashford makes tongue-in-cheek joke after being dropped by Erik ten Hag
Look through every brilliant team and you'll see players who are lauded for their attitude, their competitiveness. United need more of that.
Supporters will hate the idea of taking a leaf out of Manchester City's book. They have a real simple philosophy which is if you don't want to be here, leave. It'll only impact the dressing room negatively. United, under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for example, dug their heels in to keep the likes of Jesse Lingard and Donny van de Beek. They barely played, became unhappy and the rest is history.
United aren't reliant on player sales to aid their survival as a club. They have huge wealth. If you have to take a hit on a player financially and let him go - do it. Don't hang on this valuation that only makes everyone's lives more difficult. City, as the example, allowed Raheem Sterling, Aymeric Laporte, Riyad Mahrez and Leroy Sane all to move on - making little to no profit along the way - just to rid of players who wanted to seek pastures new.
Good players in happy environments want to stay put. This is part of the cultural reset that needs to happen, fast. A manager can be massive in pushing that ethos.
Settle on Rashford, offload Sancho
Sancho, for example, finds himself in that boat. His relationship with Ten Hag appears broken and, rather than pricing out potential suitors, what price do you put on a harmonious group? Let him go.
The winger has looked back to his best during his loan stint at Borussia Dortmund, where he first thrived before moving to Manchester. Rarely though has he shown that form for United. At what point do you turn around and say this environment just isn't for him?
The futures of Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford are discussion points (Getty Images)Talking of environments, Rashford and United find themselves at another crossroads. The forward is bursting with talent, but shows it sporadically and his off-pitch misdemeanours cannot be ignored. Sometimes he looks as invested as ever, other times quite the opposite.
There seems to be this fear of Rashford going elsewhere and excelling. Maybe that happens. But all the while he's at Old Trafford it feels like he carries the weight of the club on his shoulders.
City examples may feel tiresome, but few at the Etihad are resenting the decision to let Cole Palmer go. It is one of those things. They were happy with that they had. If Rashford did move on, does Alejandro Garnacho go to even greater heights as he looks to fill the void? Maybe. For me, a parting of ways would maybe prove the best for both parties long-term, emotional as it may be.
Who are your leaders?
Quality isn't a problem in Manchester, Rashford proves that. But who is calling these players out? Pulling them into line? Maintaining standards?
For United this summer, think as much about the person as you do the player. Adding young players, unless they've got experience, will only feed the narrative and the problem which is, who do they look to for advice?
Bruno Fernandes is the club captain - but his conduct has been raised as a problem (Getty Images)So cliche but Rashford with Roy Keane still in the dressing room - just how different might we look upon him now. Rasmus Hojlund had almost no one to bounce ideas and thoughts off as he struggled early on last term. At some point Kobbie Mainoo may hit a bit of a bump, where's his advice coming from?
Now these leaders don't have to be a Casemiro, signed on huge wages and a lengthy deal as they enter their 30s. Instead look at players still at the peak of their powers who have experience of winning.
Isn't there talk of Rodrygo potentially leaving Real Madrid after the arrival of Kylian Mbappe? The Brazilian is 23, but he's played more than 200 first-team games, won three La Ligas and two Champions Leagues. United could do a lot worse.
and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
