Manchester United have had Erik ten Hag's blueprint all over them throughout pre-season as the Dutchman attempts to refine the tactical tweak that achieved a successful end to last term. It's a far cry from Sir Jim Ratcliffe's comments in February when he claimed that United's new-look hierarchy would decide the club's style of play.
The Red Devils' pre-season tour of the United States didn't produce the results Ten Hag would've hoped for - 2-1 and 3-0 defeats to Arsenal and Liverpool on either side of a 3-2 win against Real Betis.
But he will harness optimism from his side's performances as the identity he wants to instil at Old Trafford starts to become more clear.
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United salvaged a disastrous 2023/24 campaign with a late tactical tweak that saw Ten Hag's players enter a 4-2-4 defensive shape out of possession.
It contributed to the incredible FA Cup final victory over Manchester City - the result that arguably saved the Dutchman's job after overseeing a record-low eighth-place Premier League finish.
Scott McTominay and Mason Mount pressing centrally while Jadon Sancho pushed out to the left and Amad Diallo remained on the right was a common sight against Betis and Liverpool in the US.
Based on that, Ten Hag will persist with the same system this season, using his attacking midfielder and striker to apply central pressure with his midfield double pivot behind.
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But after completing his £1.3billion investment in February, Ratcliffe made it clear that United's higher-ups would be deciding the club's 'game model' going forward in what would've been a huge change.
"We're probably still debating what precisely is the style of football we want to play," the INEOS boss explained.
"If you look at Manchester City, they know precisely what the style of football is they want to play and all 11 teams at the club play the same formula.
He added: "We'll decide that style, plus the CEO, sporting director, probably the recruitment guys, what the style of football is, and that will be the Manchester United style of football, and the coach will have to play that style."
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Ten Hag may have ensured he retained control over his tactics during crunch talks with United over the summer, which resulted in a one-year extension to his contract until 2026.
According to The Athletic, the 54-year-old has held daily talks with Sir Dave Brailsford, Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox, all present in California and South Carolina this summer.
While some of the conversations are said to have involved how United set up on the pitch, Ten Hag wouldn't accept losing that power.
His relationship with the Red Devils' new chiefs has been one of compromise so far. But there is hope that it will ultimately result in the return of sustained success.
