Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Erik Ten Hag, Manchester United, Premier League
Josh Lawless
Erik Ten Hag reportedly introduced a staggering 83 principles when he arrived at Manchester United.
The Dutchman took the reins at Old Trafford in the summer following on from the dismissal of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and a wretched interim spell from Ralf Rangnick.
In his first season at United, Ten Hag guided the club back into the Champions League with a third-placed finish and also ended a six-year trophy drought after winning the Carabao Cup at Wembley in February.
Although things weren't perfect and it's still a work in progress, there were plenty of signs that Ten Hag is the man to bring the good times back to United.
And according to Melissa Reddy of Sky Sports, the 52-year-old made his mark at United by making his ideas very clear.
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He brought in the fundamentals as a first move in order for his players to understand how they were going to play and the standards he accepts.
As per Reddy, a good chunk of the principles relate to off-the-ball work and new signing Mason Mount fits in perfectly.
She added that Mount was "wowed" by the level of detail he was able to provide on his way of playing.
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A previous report said Ten Hag implemented five rules upon his arrival - including a focus on passing forwards, not accepting poor body language and dressing room cliques, opportunities for young players and medal and reputation counting for nothing.
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He's also not been afraid to make big decisions and laid down the law early on when Alejandro Garnacho was late for a meeting during a pre-season tour of Australia.
As a punishment, he did not play a single minute during the tour. Even Marcus Rashford was dropped for timekeeping and of course Ten Hag made Cristiano Ronaldo surplus to requirements, leading to his departure to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
He later said he "lost no sleep" over axing Ronaldo and discussed the need to have strict rules in place.
"Top players like structure, not only on the pitch, so you need some rules. In every organisation when there are no rules and discipline in taking the rules seriously, you create a mess.
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"It was quite obvious because I could see on the pitch what was going on."