Manchester UnitedErik ten Hag, together with assistant coach Mitchell van der Gaag, are breaking new ground with the players this season.

That's according to De Telegraaf's Marcel van der Kraan, who reveals the players - including Cristiano Ronaldo - have been won over the Dutchmen's commitment to the cause.

"In the Netherlands, we would almost let the team go off the field under a flute concert," reasoned Van der Kraan after the Europa League win against Omonia. "But when you saw what happened: that was fantastic. Old Trafford exploded. And then you also saw (Scott) McTominay give a praise to Ten Hag – and that was not entirely coincidental.

"In recent weeks I happened to hear how Ten Hag and Mitchell van der Gaag are with the players: that is unprecedented.

"Ten Hag and Van der Gaag do everything together. Van der Gaag has the freedom to do a lot of training, Ten Hag has a kind of hawk's eye that sees everything. Those players in the dressing room have a lot of respect for them, also because they see that they are both at the club from early morning to late evening and put all their energy into that team. Even Cristiano Ronaldo thinks it is nice what Ten Hag does.

"It is certainly changing. Ten Hag also brings that in because the players think he is a very good trainer. If players enjoy their training sessions, you have already won a lot. If there are now some successes, and if someone like Cristiano Ronaldo says, 'Yeah guys, this isn't wrong', he'll be fine."