Victor Lindelof admits the Erik ten Hag’s tough love is exactly what the Red Devils need

When David Moyes returns to Old Trafford on Sunday, straightforward Dutchman Erik ten Hag – the sixth manager to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson – seems to strike the right balance between hard love and winning the respect of his players.

Moyes also had a reputation for being tough when he was chosen to replace Fergie in 2013, but he was unable to take the big hitters.

Rio Ferdinand accused him of changing the culture at the club and Ryan Giggs pointedly left him off the list of managers he thanked in his retirement statement.

Victor Lindelof (right) says manager’s tough love is welcomed and ‘sets high demands’

The young player neglected by Ferguson to revive United, Wilfried Zaha, made just one start – in the Community Shield – under Moyes, who has since regained his reputation at West Ham.

After Moyes, Jose Mourinho was seen as too critical and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer too friendly.

Ten Hag is looking for the middle ground at United, unbeaten in seven games since six goals at Manchester City.

Cristiano Ronaldo was sacked from Chelsea as punishment for refusing to act as a late substitute against Tottenham, while Ten Hag has warned the record £85million Antony has attracted for showboating.

Ronaldo (pictured) returned to the team to score during United’s 3-0 vs Sheriff on Thursday

Harry Maguire (pictured) was another player dropped by Ten Hag after a 4-0 loss to Brentford

Club captain Harry Maguire was among the players dropped after United were beaten 4-0 at Brentford in their second league appearance this season.

But what Ten Hag has done is offer a way back. Ronaldo was re-lined mid-week for the Europa League win against FC Sheriff and scored.

Even the world’s most famous player has no doubts about who’s boss in the locker room.

Defender Victor Lindelof, who plays a key role with an injured Raphael Varane, admits: “The standards must always be high and if the manager wants us to do something different, he will tell us.

Ten Hag (right) has also warned landmark Antony (left) about showboating

Defender Lindelof (photo) finds Ten Hag’s hard policy ‘as it should be’

‘I love that. It is as it should be. That’s what we need. At a club like this you have to perform and if you don’t we all know there’s another one ready to come in and help the team.

He has been very important to us. The first games of the season were not the best for us, but since then we have performed well and won some big games.

“Now it’s up to us to keep improving, listening to the coaches and following the way they want us to play. As the manager’s standards are high, the training is very good.

The manager told us to believe in ourselves, stay on the ball, play good football at a fast pace and run a lot. Confidence increases because of the results and we have to keep going.’

Despite missing Frenkie de Jong in the summer, United’s midfield is developing a fine balance since the arrival of more than £70 million from multiple Champions League winner Casemiro from Real Madrid.

After losing their first two games, United have only been beaten by City in the Premier League this season.

Lindelof also praised new signing Casemiro (pictured) as a ‘great player and great person’

A return to the Champions League via a top four finish is no longer a dream, as Casemiro brings a winning mentality to the dressing room.

“He is a fantastic player and also a great person,” added Lindelof. “Obviously he has a lot of qualities: his mentality, the way he wants to play football, the way he always fights and how he always helps his teammates. I think that’s very important.

“Since he got here, he’s worked really hard on his part. He wins the ball, he can hold the ball, make good passes and it’s really nice to have him in defense because he’s such a smart player.

And he knows how to read the game well. His mentality and the way he not only wants to win matches, but also how he trains is important.

“Every day he comes in, he does everything 100 percent. The standards during training reflect how everyone wants to improve and keep the standards and pace high – and of course Casemiro is someone who wants to keep that up. In that respect he is a role model.’

The comparison with Ronaldo is obvious, even if Lindelof didn’t mean it that way.

The Portuguese superstar has threatened to alienate United fans and his team-mates for his petulant attitude this season and even at home, where he is revered, there have been discussions about whether the 37-year-old deserves to win a World Cup. to be a starter in Qatar.

Ronaldo’s goal in the middle of the week should do him a lot of good and he accepts that he must behave at his best between now and the World Cup, even if a transfer in January is possible.

Nuno Luz, one of Portugal’s main broadcasters who knows Ronaldo well through making a documentary about his life, thinks he will face Ghana in their first World Cup match, possibly alongside AC Milan’s Bernardo Silva and Rafa Leao in a front three given that Diogo Jota and Pedro Neto are injured and Joao Felix out of form.

“I think Ronaldo will start at the World Cup,” said Luz. “I don’t know if he starts every game or plays 90 minutes, but I think he will be in the first game.”