The three strict Erik ten Hag rules Manchester United players must follow or else

Fred has revealed that Manchester United players have to stick to three strict rules from Erik ten Hag, and Marcus Rashford has fallen foul of one of them already.

There's no doubting the improvement that Ten Hag has brought on the pitch for United this season, with the team only four league wins short of where they finished the previous campaign, with another 18 games to go.

Ten Hag has quickly let the players know who's boss around the club, something that perhaps wasn't as obvious during Ralf Rangnick's interim spell.

His handling of the Cristiano Ronaldo situation was done perfectly, no matter what the Al Nassr star's number one bootlicker Piers Morgan thinks.

The other big moment of the season that proved how things have changed under the Dutchman came right at the end of last year, when in-form Marcus Rashford was dropped to the bench for the game with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Rashford came off the bench to score the winning goal and later revealed the reason he hadn't started was as punishment for being late to a team meeting.

Now midfielder Fred has revealed that lateness is one of the manager's three rules, that have even been put up in the changing room to show how seriously they must be taken.

"He is a good coach and has helped us a lot. Now we have an identity to show to other teams," the Brazilian midfielder told the Times.

“He has put rules [up] inside the dressing room — don’t be late, don’t do wrong things, always do what you can to help your partner — and that’s important. We are growing every day.”

Fred clearly enjoys working with Ten Hag. Image: Alamy

Fred has been much maligned over the years, with Roy Keane even recently claiming he's one of four players the club should get rid of.

The Brazilian is arguably enjoying some of his finest form since joining from Shakhtar Donetsk, even if he isn't starting as regularly as during other periods.

He has clearly got a good relationship with fellow countryman Casemiro, since the midfielder joined from Real Madrid last summer.

Fred may have been hoping for more starts when Christian Eriksen's injury was confirmed as keeping him out for some time, but the club brought in Marcel Sabitzer on deadline day.

One thing is for sure though, he won't be running late to any meetings, and nor will Rashford or anyone else, if they know what's good for them.