Mark Hughes claims Erik ten Hag is showing the same discipline as Sir Alex Ferguson at Man United

Former Manchester United title-winner Mark Hughes believes Erik ten Hag is the best man to lead the club back to the glory days and has compared his attitude and man-management style to legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

Hughes, now manager of League Two side Bradford, lauded his former club’s turnaround so far under Ten Hag who has already clinched the League Cup title and lead United to an FA Cup semi-final and third in the Premier League.

The Dutchman in the dugout has transformed what was a downtrodden and embarrassed Man United last season into a team brimming with confidence and playing a brand of football that has seen a feel-good factor return to Old Trafford.

Hughes has clearly absorbed some of the positive mood around the United camp and told the Mirror that Ten Hag has ‘steadied the boat’ but needs to be given ‘time’ to get the club back on top.

‘Erik ten Hag has come in and steadied the boat that was rocking from side to side,’ said Hughes.

Mark Hughes has backed Erik ten Hag to continue delivering success at Manchester United

Manchester United players have benefited from some much-needed discipline this season

Hughes compared Ten Hag’s attitude to Sir Alex Ferguson’s (pictured) man-management style

‘He’s going to need to have time and he’s done the initial part of dealing with the demand that was on him as the manager of the club, stabilising everything.

‘He looks like he’s instilled discipline into the group and the club as whole. Playing under Sir Alex Ferguson, his standards for discipline and behaviour were strong, it was one of his mantras. 

‘It looks like Ten Hag has taken a little bit of that on board and it seems like he is a very straight forward and structured guy who just tells you as it is,’ he added.

Hughes was one of Ferguson’s most important signings during his early United tenure as he became the club’s then-record signing in 1988 and during 10 seasons in two spells at the club helped them clinch their first two of Ferguson’s 13 Premier League titles along with three FA Cup’s and multiple other honours.

During that spell he witnessed plenty of Ferguson’s famous hairdryer dressing room moments as the Scotsman demanded the highest levels of discipline and respect from players fortunate enough to play for the English giants.

The Welshman left United in 1995 as the young blood of Class of 92′ began to be bled through into the first-team by the serial title-winning manager.

However, Hughes has kept an eye on United ever since his departure and maintains a strong relationship with the club despite enjoying a spell managing cross-city rivals Manchester City.

His analysis of Ten Hag is a fair assessment given the Dutchman’s immediate success after stepping into the managerial hotseat following United’s worst-ever Premier League season.

Former United title-winner Hughes (right) has credited Ten Hag (left) for transforming the Red Devils

Ten Hag’s man-management style has got stars like Marcus Rashford (left) back performing

Ten Hag has instilled some much-needed discipline within his squad of previously underachieving superstars and has shown he isn’t afraid to drop players who don’t match the standards he has set.

The United boss dropped Marcus Rashford earlier in the season after the star winger overslept and has warned up and coming young talent Alejandro Garnacho on multiple occasions for his attitude.

Ten Hag will be hoping his period of success can continue during the end-of-season run-in when United travel to face top four competitors Newcastle on Sunday.

Top goalscorer Rashford is expected to be fit for the clash after missing the international break with England through injury, while Ten Hag also bit back at criticism of striker Wout Weghorst.