The Manchester Evening News have reported that Ten Hag ordered players to report to training by 9am on Tuesday – something Ferguson did during his legendary spell as United manager.
Ten Hag was driven into Carrington just after 8am, while it’s said that all players who have returned for pre-season were at the training complex before 9am.
It marks an early rule change for Ten Hag at Old Trafford, and it is not the only one he has made that is a throwback to Ferguson’s methods.
As previously reported, Ten Hag is also keen to foster a positive team spirit in the Red Devils dressing room and as a result has insisted that the squad must eat together and socialise after training.
Ferguson made similar demands during his 26-year tenure at the club, but this culture has since evaporated within the camp.
In an effort to prioritise on-ball drills during the opening sessions, Ten Hag has also reportedly told his staff to trim the grass to exactly 15mm, so that the players can quickly get up to speed with his passing demands.
The likes of David de Gea, Luke Shaw and Phil Jones were among the first-team stars to return to training on Monday.
Despite a sizeable number of absentees still enjoying their holidays, 15 senior players showed up on the first day back, arriving in two groups at 9.30am and 11.30am.
Several first-team stars are not in attendance after playing in June’s Nations League international matches, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes.
He began his preparations for the role in May, but the work has now properly started as he gets to know some of his new players ahead of the season.
Ten Hag has plenty of work to do, given United are coming off their worst ever Premier League season.
The Red Devils narrowly pipped West Ham to the second Europa League qualifying spot – just missing out on the ignominy of the third-tier Europa Conference League.
Their total of 58 points was still their worst total in 32 years, and 35 points off the eventual total of champions – and fierce rivals – Manchester City.
Several players have left the club this summer, including Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata, Edinson Cavani, Jesse Lingard and Lee Grant – all on free transfers.
United fans though are getting frustrated about their lack of transfer activity so far, despite serious interest in Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who worked under Ten Hag at Ajax.
Ajax winger Antony is also a target, while Christian Eriksen is available on a free transfer and is expected to choose between Manchester United and Brentford shortly.
The fact rivals Manchester City and Liverpool have already strengthened with the likes of Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez respectively, the lack of deals done will do little to appease frustrated fans.
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