Erik ten Hag's ultimate authority is breeding a winning mentality; players feel like they are being properly coached, corrected, and steered at the club; Ten Hag is bettering United in the immediate term while plotting future stability and success.
"The gaffer is excellent at planning," begins a Manchester United staffer, elongating that point to stress its merits, before adding: "but having worked under so many managers and being a part of different dressing rooms, I would say his biggest strength is how he reacts - especially in dark moments."
In October, Pep Guardiola's Manchester City "hammered" United - to pinch the Dutchman's description - ending their four-match winning run and problematically underscoring an inferiority complex.
Ten Hag called that gruelling game a "status check" for United, who had defeated Liverpool and Arsenal - they are still the only side to oust Mikel Arteta's league leaders this season - but were facing another crisis of confidence. In the days following the derby, the manager held several meetings that touched on different facets, the first being psychology.
The evidence concurs. United will hope for a healthier "status check" in Saturday's derby, but whatever the scoreline against City, Ten Hag is navigating them in the right direction.
As Pep Guardiola already analysed: "Finally United is coming back."
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