Patrice Evra opened up on the text message he received from Sir Alex Ferguson during Manchester United's 3-0 defeat to Tottenham last month.

For Manchester United fans the pattern is wearisomely familiar. A new manager comes in. There is immediate uplift, results improve. At the end of a positive first season he signs a new contract, there is talk of at last finding a proper successor to Sir Alex Ferguson.

Erik ten Hag believes Sir Alex Ferguson will always be available for advice despite Manchester United removing him from the wage bill. The Athletic this week reported Sir Jim Ratcliffe had informed Ferguson his annual salary of approximately £2million needed to be cut as part of the INEOS streamlining operation.