Erik ten Hag was unveiled as Manchester United’s next permanent manager earlier this week and gave an impressive performance in his pre-match press conference.
It’s been a disastrous season for the club and despite their dismal form since the turn of the year, Ralf Rangnick and his side scraped Europa League qualification on the final day of the season.
Ten Hag is yet to assess the squad and is not believed to be meeting with the players until next month when they return for pre-season training and despite wholesale changes to the squad being expected, there are several players who are likely to be favourites under the Dutchman.
Cristiano Ronaldo
The 37-year-old scored 24 goals in all competitions this season and was, by large, the only player keeping United alive in the last two months. He endured a tough period during Rangnick’s first two months and after becoming the target in mainstream media, he found his goalscoring touch and now looks indispensable.
Some supporters have raised concerns that Ronaldo, who will be 38 by the time his contract at United expires, would be a square peg in Ten Hag’s raucous system but if his Ajax side is anything to go by, Ronaldo will have no issues adapting to a new style.
Sebastien Haller, the former West Ham striker, thrived in the same position for Ajax and is not always inclined to trigger a manic press, offsetting any doubts over whether Ten Hag can build his team around Ronaldo.
What’s clear is that in Ronaldo, United have one of the most prolific goalscorers in the world, and amid a season of transition, as next year is likely to be, having a settled focal point could be vital.
More must-reads: