Five things to look out for on Manchester United’s pre-season US tour
With new players and staff – both executive and coaching – in place Erik ten Hag will be looking for improvement
Call it the warmest of rapprochements. A work in progress. An uneasy truce or standoff of convenience. However you boil it down, there is no escaping how dubious Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos-led football department was of Erik ten Hag’s candidacy to continue as Manchester United manager. After the Dutchman survived despite the sounding out of a plethora of potential replacements, can he and Dan Ashworth, the club’s new sporting director, strike up a strong professional relationship and work in concert to drive the team forward? There is a desire from Ten Hag and Ineos to do so – of course there is – but the test of any cracks in the Dutchman’s status may come if United lose three on the bounce or eke a couple of draws while stinking the pitch out.
