David de Gea explains how Ten Hag is giving Manchester United a identity

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David de Gea has explained how Erik ten Hag is already giving Manchester United a needed identity in the opening weeks of the Dutchman’s reign.

While not getting carried because it was a pre-season friendly, there were several reasons to be positive and optimistic after our 4-0 win against Liverpool in Ten Hag’s first game in charge.

From the get go, it was evident that United wanted to press from the front and win the ball high up the pitch.

United’s forward line bought into Ten Hag’s intense philosophy and Manchester United legend Andy Cole claimed that he hadn’t seen Anthony Martial move as quick.

At the other end of the pitch it was clear that the former Ajax manager wants us to play out from the back and be confident taking the ball in all areas.

However, although it was a perfect start for Ten Hag against our arch-rivals, the 52-year-old claimed he noticed several ‘mistakes’ which need to be ironed out.

De Gea explains how Ten Hag is giving Manchester United a identity

Another noticeable change in how we played was De Gea’s willingness to play out from the back and come rushing off his line.

Playing the role as sweeper keeper isn’t something that comes naturally to the Spaniard unlike Ederson, Alisson and Manuel Neuer.

But with Ten Hag’s philosophy and blueprint on the United side already clear to see after just two-and-a-half weeks the signs are very encouraging.

When Ralf Rangnick arrived as interim boss to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the German was expected to stamp his own imprint on the side.

But the man dubbed the godfather of gegenpressing and known for his high-octane style of play couldn’t get a tune out of the United players and we had no clear identity or style of play under him – it was all very mundane.

Prior to Cristiano Ronaldo’s return, we were very much a counter-attacking team under Solskjaer but we struggled to open up sides who played in a low block against us.

And as for David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho – we have to be honest it wasn’t great viewing and the less the said the better.

But speaking to the club’s website, De Gea has spoken about the positive impression Ten Hag has already made and how this Manchester United side need his guidance to provide the team with a much-needed identity.

“The manager knows 100 per cent what he wants,” the former Atletico Madrid man said.

“He knows the way he wants to play. He’s giving a lot of information to the team, trying to give the details and have some rules inside and outside the pitch, I think this is what we need and also to know what we have to do on the pitch and play as a team.

“I think the whole team is working very hard. They are very intense sessions with the manager, he knows very clearly what he wants for the team and there is a lot of information at the beginning, as I said, but with the time here [on tour] we are getting the right messages so I think it’s great.

“It’s very intense training and everyone is focused on football and I feel that I have seen great, great things.”

Ten Hag is United’s fifth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson and it could well be that we’ve hired a manager who is on an upward career and has the tactical knowledge to implement a total football philosophy that could eventually see us go toe-to-toe with rivals Manchester City and Liverpool.