The impact of Erik ten Hag is already being felt at Manchester United, with Luke Shaw acknowledging a "big improvement" as he aims to atone for a poor personal campaign last season.
Ten Hag arrived at Old Trafford after the departure of Ralf Rangnick, who replaced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last November, following another underwhelming campaign from United.
The former Ajax coach has a sizeable rebuilding job to do after United recorded their lowest points tally in a Premier League season.
United also failed to end a league campaign with a positive goal difference for the first time since the 1989-90 season.
Ten Hag has acted by bringing in left-back Tyrell Malacia and Christian Eriksen, and has convincingly defeated Liverpool and Melbourne Victory in his opening two pre-season friendlies.
Frenkie de Jong is the next reported arrival should United strike a deal with Barcelona, and Shaw was quick to credit the work Ten Hag is doing on and off the pitch.
"We can't be satisfied anymore with how the team had been going," he told United's website. "It’s not where the club should be and we know the levels have had to take a massive step in terms of higher intensity and what we're supposed to be doing and I think from the start of the last two weeks, especially in training, it's definitely a big improvement.
"And even in the games, I think you could see things that probably you haven't seen before, so I think there are things to look forward to.
"I think the manager knows what the team needs and he has his own style and how he wants to manage and all the players have really taken it on board and they're really enjoying it
"He is very hands-on and he takes a lot of the sessions. He's involved a lot and if he sees people aren't hitting the standards that he wants in training, he'll make sure they know.
"The manager demands more and we have to be better and better. After the first game he said to the press and he also said it to us as well that there were mistakes made that we need to improve on, not just individually but as a team as well.
"He's spoken a lot about the team and the structure and the way he wants to play. It's a lot of details, but details win games and with his philosophy and the way he wants to play, we need to listen.
"It's really good to have an idea of what the manager wants and it's down to us to go and show that on the pitch. And like I said, there is still much more to come from us and this is only the start."
The arrival of Malacia from Feyenoord provides further competition for Shaw, who only made 20 Premier League appearances last season in a campaign hit by injury.
Malacia is expected to pose an attacking threat at left-back, having provided four assists in the 2021-22 season, while his 6.0 expected assists (xA) was bettered by only four Eredivisie defenders.
As Shaw prepares to compete with Malacia, Alex Telles and Brandon Williams at left-back, the England international acknowledged he must improve after the 2021-22 term.
"Last season was very disappointing, not just as a team but also individually for me," he added.
"It wasn't what people expect or what I expect and I think this season is another fresh start. Now it's time for me to keep consistency and keep higher levels of performance week in, week out which I've spoken to the manager about already and that's what he wants."
United will conclude their pre-season preparations against Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Atletico Madrid and Rayo Vallecano before their Premier League opener against Brighton and Hove Albion on August 7.
"I think you need to have an eye on that Brighton match [already] because that's the most important game that's coming up," Shaw continued.
"Now, it's all about preparation and getting the fitness work in and the game time, and obviously understanding the new set-up the manager wants on the pitch.
"It's about putting all that together and making sure we're 100 per cent at our best when that first game comes because that's the most important one."
Exeter record impressive win at Northampton
Ten-man Exeter continued their excellent form with a late 2-1 victory at Northampton.
The Grecians played the whole second half a man down but extended their unbeaten run to nine games thanks to Will Aimson’s 83rd minute winner.
The visitors opened the scoring at Sixfields when Harris collected Dion Rankine’s pass on 20 minutes and fired in off the post.
Jake Richards went close to adding to City’s lead before an almighty goalmouth scramble at the other end saw Louis Appere, Mitch Pinnock and Marc Leonard all have efforts either blocked or saved.
Exeter lost a man in first-half stoppage-time with Ryan Woods sent off for violent conduct after clashing with home captain Jon Guthrie.
Northampton inevitably dominated possession in the second half but it took until the 74th minute for the equaliser to arrive when Exeter failed to deal with a long throw and Guthrie stabbed in the loose ball.
But despite their numerical disadvantage, the visitors snatched victory thanks to Aimson, who ghosted in at the back post to convert Zak Jules’ cross seven minutes from time.
Joe Hart the hero for Celtic after thrilling cup semi-final win
Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart set himself up for a Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final farewell – despite missing a penalty in a shoot-out in a Hampden classic against Aberdeen.
Hart hit the post with Celtic’s fifth penalty following a thrilling 3-3 draw with the Dons but the victory was only delayed. The 36-year-old saved from Killian Phillips to ensure a 6-5 shoot-out win and a final date on May 25 against Rangers or Hearts ahead of his impending retirement.
It was a semi-final that had just about everything. Celtic recovered from Bojan Miovski’s early goal to led through goals from Nicolas Kuhn and substitute James Forrest, but substitute Ester Sokler headed home at the back post in the 90th minute.
Matt O’Riley fired Celtic ahead in extra-time but stand-in Dons captain Angus MacDonald atoned for the massive blunder that led to Celtic’s equaliser when he headed home in the 119th minute.
The shoot-out somehow surpassed the drama of the actual game as Hart took centre stage.
Brendan Rodgers has enjoyed far more straightforward afternoons at Hampden but still earned a perfect 10th victory at the national stadium in his first game here since the League Cup final in December 2018.
The Dons stunned the favourites two minutes in. Leighton Clarkson played a perfect pass inside Cameron Carter-Vickers to get Miovski in behind and the North Macedonia striker beat Hart to claim his 24th goal of the campaign.
Celtic created two half-chances to equalise but Yang Hyun-jun headed over and Kelle Roos stood up to parry Kyogo Furuhashi’s effort.
Aberdeen were otherwise keeping Celtic at bay until MacDonald took a poor second touch on the ball midway inside his half in the 21st minute. Furuhashi to raced away before his effort was blocked by Stefan Gartenmann, but the ball fell kindly for Kuhn, who rolled it past a stranded Roos.
Aberdeen had the best opportunity to take an interval lead but Hart saved from Gartenmann and Celtic had a let-off in the closing stages of the half when Scales handled just outside the box, according to a VAR check.
Rodgers made his first changes in the 62nd minute, Callum McGregor replaced by Tomoki Iwata and Yang making way for Forrest. The 32-year-old had a shot blocked even before netting 90 seconds after coming on.
The winger dropped the shoulder to cut inside his man before curling a perfect shot just inside the far post from 23 yards. It was his ninth goal in the latter stages of cup competitions.
Forrest forced Roos into a diving save but the game changed with the introduction of a second Aberdeen striker, Sokler, in the 79th minute.
Aerial balls led to two excellent chances for another substitute, Junior Hoilett, but a poor first touch saw him miss the first and Carter-Vickers blocked on the line from the second opportunity.
Scales headed over from six yards and Celtic paid the price for a poor pass forward from substitute Luis Palma. The ball was worked to Hoilett, who crossed to the back post for Sokler to head home.
Sokler stabbed wide in the opening moments of extra-time, although he would possibly have been called offside if it had gone to VAR, and Celtic got back on top before taking the lead in stoppage-time of the first period.
Forrest threaded a pass that allowed Alistair Johnston to run in behind and cut back for O’Riley, who found the top corner from eight yards.
The drama continued. Adam Idah had a headed goal disallowed for offside before failing to turn O’Riley’s square ball home.
Celtic survived another VAR penalty check after Carter-Vickers caught Hoilett, the video officials backing referee Don Robertson’s view that the Aberdeen winger had committed a foul on Johnston seconds beforehand.
Sokler missed from close range before MacDonald headed home in a near carbon copy of Sokler’s equaliser to spark wild celebrations on the trackside between players and fans.
Even the shoot-out had some outrageous twists. The first seven penalties were scored before Roos went down with apparent cramp and needed treatment. Ryan Duncan hit the post after the long delay.
The Celtic fans got a shock when Hart stepped up to take the penalty that would have sent Celtic into the final. The goalkeeper also hit the post.
Hoilett netted to send the tie into sudden death but Hart had the final say.
Emma Hayes focused on second leg after historic win for Chelsea in Barcelona
Emma Hayes had mixed feelings despite seeing Chelsea condemn holders Barcelona to a first home defeat for five years and edge closer to the Champions League final.
Erin Cuthbert’s first-half goal clinched a precious 1-0 semi-final first-leg win at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys to set the Women’s Super League leaders up perfectly for the return at Stamford Bridge next Saturday.
It was a first competitive victory for the Blues over Barca, who knocked them out at the same stage last season on their way to a second European title, and came courtesy of a superb defensive effort – but boss Hayes was left wondering what might have been.
She told DAZN: “It’s just half-time. Nobody should get carried away with that and to be honest, I’m disappointed we didn’t get the second goal.
“It’s a difficult place to come and they carried out the game plan I asked them to do – so from that perspective, I’m happy.”
The Blues had to soak up early pressure but did so to such effect that Barca did not muster a single shot on target during a tense encounter.
Cuthbert’s 40th-minute strike gave the visitors the lead and, having seen French referee Stephanie Frappart reverse her decision to award a penalty against Kadeisha Buchanan for handball after the break, they might have increased their advantage.
Salma Paralluelo and substitute Alexia Putellas could have salvaged a draw amid a late flurry but Chelsea held firm.
Hayes is well aware of the threat Barcelona will pose in the second leg.
Hayes said: “I think I know how to come away from home and get a result. We have under-performed against Barcelona at home.
“Barcelona have another level in them and I think that’s clear. Maybe they don’t feel they were at their best today and we have to anticipate that.”
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