Manchester United have decided against setting Erik ten Hag the target of a top-four Premier League finish this season in an attempt to alleviate the pressure on the Dutchman's shoulders, according to reports. Instead, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS are hoping to lay the foundations for future success by instilling a clear identity on the pitch.
Ten Hag will be feeling the heat as he enters his third season as United manager, a third season that was very unlikely to arrive before May's FA Cup triumph against Manchester City.
The Red Devils' memorable showing at Wembley bought the 54-year-old some time, and he later extended his contract by one year until 2026.
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But it goes without saying that, at such a club, an underwhelming start to the new campaign will spark further intense scrutiny of his position.
United finished eighth in the Premier League last term, outside of the European spots, the club's worst-ever such campaign.
Ten Hag also saw a humiliating group-stage exit in the Champions League, winning just one of six games against Bayern Munich, Copenhagen and Galatasaray.
FA Cup glory meant two major trophies in two seasons after a six-year drought, though, and offered the bonus of Europa League qualification.
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And while United will be eyeing a swift Champions League return, a failure to do so is unlikely to define whether Ten Hag keeps his job.
According to The Guardian, Ten Hag's primary target this season is to improve on-field performance and off-field standards.
While the United boss and INEOS will want to aim for as high a position as possible, Ratcliffe is said to be prioritising the progression of the team through encouraging performances.
Of course, improved displays on the pitch will not only establish a solid foundation for the excellence INEOS seek, but they should also naturally result in a higher finish than eighth.
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Regardless of whether such improvements result in a top-four finish or if, amid intense competition among several clubs, United miss out, it won't be something Ten Hag is primarily judged on.
There is reportedly an understanding within the walls of Old Trafford that the club is undergoing one of the biggest periods of transition in its storied history.
United's new sporting hierarchy - chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox - will need time to form an elite working environment.
But it's set to be a campaign where signs of promise and potential will be just as important as instant results.
