Is Manchester United finally steering the right course after so many changes?
The virtual wall at the indoor fitness centre at Carrington has three directives: 'Dominate, intimidate, regenerate'.
When looking at United through a wide lens, the last one is intriguing. Is the club in revival mode, dressed in a more modern way of doing things, and getting rid of the old ways of doing things?
They try to impose a culture of responsibility and excellence in Ten Hag.
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On a purely on-pitch front, structure in and out of possession, a clear and well-communicated tactical blueprint, greater balance in the team, and a collective approach, the early improvements are obvious.
"I have the feeling that United are coming back, finally, I think they are coming back," said the Spaniard. Right now, I like what I see from United.
Both clubs might have wondered how long it would take until United became a consideration to them again after the almighty tussle between Manchester City andLiverpool.
There was no worry at the highest curve. United relied on individualism and times to smooth their best periods.
In Ten Hag they possess a progressive manager, trying to impose a culture of responsibility and excellence.
There was a belief that Solskjaer was too soft a touch, and that the dressing room was too free, for there to be a real remedying of the standards at United.
Rivals are afraid under Ten Hag. A man who has shown his authority quickly and without drama is the Dutch man.
The most high-profile example of that final element is his handling of the Portugal player.
Bruno said that he explained what he wanted so anyone not doing what he wanted would be punished.
Discipline is found off the pitch. Nothing can be done with him.
The manager is aware of the squad's media commitments, and he was engaging a member of the communications team over what was happening in the mixed zone.
There were no questions about the behavior or the punishment of the player who refused to be taken off against Spurs.
This reporter was told in July by a technical staffer that there can be no doubt.
A new audio-visual room at Carrington was created to increase team meetings and feedback.
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He requested tiered levels of seating so that everyone in the room could see the monitors.
What is the current state of play at United?
After Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement, the club broke the $1 billion spending mark by summer 2020 only to assemble a bunch of different managers.
John Murtough is the director of football and one of his main tasks is to change the mechanisms of how United approach transfers.
The head of global scouting and the chief scout left in April.
The director of football negotiations who was described as Ed Woodward's right hand also left.
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The plan was to make the approach simpler and put more focus on the results.
One year ago, Dominic Jordan was appointed as United's first director of data science, and he works with strategy executive Chris Chiang in helping the club make smarter decisions.
Steve Brown is tasked with combining their findings with global scouting reports to assess what the squad needs in the immediate to long term.
The market was at the forefront of business this summer. The two men were brought in from his former club.
Christian Eriksen trained with the Dutch giants in order to build up his fitness at the end of the year.
Malacia was wanted by the manager to join Ajax. Ten Hag had first-hand knowledge about those incomings and was heavily pushed for.
Ten Hag's character assessments helped solidify United's thinking, as all the players bar Malacia were on their short list.
The deal was sealed by Ten Hag's assertion that he would fight like an animal for United while also improving how they build up in possession.
Antony was one of two right forwards seriously under consideration, and while the club conceded they paid more than they originally wanted for the Brazil international, they flagged there is going to be a lot of demand for that position in the next two seasons.
The camp of Ten Hag and Casemiro were adamant that the player wanted to come to Old United.
The serial winner with Real Madrid was excited by the challenge of restoring the club to where they belong.
To be fair to United, it is possible to imagine all of these recruits turning out under their other manager.
Without the ball, they have made a huge difference. On the subject of falling for romance rather than the reality of what it would mean for the path forward they're trying to cultivate, United point to his legacies at the club and his goals last season.
The lack of interest in one of the greatest football players of all time is a sign of how the clubs frame the legend. A great player with a great past.
There will be more long-term solutions for United. The aim is to increase the fees they receive for outgoings, an area that the club are not as competitive in.
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Significant investment, fresh operational structure and general improvements have helped the academy and women's team.
The WSL champion is United. Alejandro Garnacho scored his first senior goal for United on Thursday but the club have been trying to find edges in the post-Brexit world which prevents the stocking up of talented foreigners under 18
The women's team is going to get expansive new facilities as part of a wide-ranging revamping of Carrington.
She is in charge of immediate progress to the infrastructure and what Murtough calls the "master plan" of the training ground.
There are offices, a gym, and an overspill car park at Carrington.
Major improvements to the stadium are likely to be two years away, with United engaging architectural design firm Populous and business planning consultant Legend on the project.
There are significant challenges in terms of complexity, timing, cost, and disruption that need to be overcome if Old Manchester is to be redeveloped to the next level. It's doable but not easy.
We need to take time to get it right and it's not a quick fix.
It's too early to say what the number of extra seats and cost will be, but we are working through different options.
Richard Arnold and Murtough are known to be committed to getting the best in class from every field at United.
It is claimed that Woodward didn't like threats to his power, but this testimony is different.
The environment around the club has changed to one that is more open, inclusive and enjoyable.
It's difficult to ignore the fact that the club were hurt by the takeover of the club in the summer of 2005.
Since 1931, United has been almost debt free. The club had an initial debt of over half a billion dollars.
The total amount of money paid in interest alone since the takeover is close to $750 million.
The majority of the club's income goes to the shareholders, with an average of around £22 million per season.
The net debt, which is gross debt less cash reserves, is almost half a billion dollars.
United will have to survive. We all have been anticipating them. Now is the time for United to prove that they are back.
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