Rio Ferdinand makes return to the club's 'more positive' training ground

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has heaped praise on Erik ten Hag for helping make dramatic positive changes at the club's Carrington training ground.

The club's legendary centre-back made his return to the training base where he used to frequently train largely under former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, during his spell at the club from 2002 to 2014.

Ferdinand, who won the Champions League and six Premier League titles with the club was at Carrington as a BT Sport pundit to interview Bruno Fernandes ahead of the second leg of United's Europa League tie with Barcelona at Old Trafford on Thursday, with the scores locked at 2-2 following the first leg at the Nou Camp.

But Ferdinand couldn't resist having another look around the ground again and insists he has felt a huge positive swing at the club who are approaching a decade without a title since Ferguson's departure, with successors David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick failing to improve their fortunes.

'The vibes at Carrington and Old Trafford have changed dramatically,' he said on his YouTube show FIVE.

'It's become more positive, the ambience in the place. The cafeteria has even changed. It's like everything has changed. Looks different, feels different, food's different. The feeling when you walk in, I've had very negative vibes [in the past] when I've walked through the corridors of the training ground.

'I was on my own, walking back out through the training ground, through the corridors, and I stood there and just smiled. I can sense something happening in here now. I don't what it is or where it's going to but the ambience is very different. There's a confidence in the place.

'And the confidence isn't about the players alone, it's the staff. I can sense something with the staff. They're more upbeat, happy to be in at work every day. And that's all been generated and created by Erik ten Hag and his management team and some people behind the scenes, because there's not one person who can change the whole culture of a football club - it's a collective approach.'

Under Ten Hag, United have made vast improvements on the pitch, with the club currently third in the Premier League table and with an outside shot of winning the title as they trail leaders Arsenal by five points having played a game more.

In addition they also have a League Cup final with Newcastle United on Sunday - where they can win their first trophy since 2017 - and are also in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

'It's the right path right now and given they're in the running for four trophies still, not that I think they'll win four. It's nice to go to Carrington and Old Trafford and feel more optimistic than negative.'

He added: 'The vibe when they're out training, doing the rondos, there's a different energy that I haven't seen for a while, not that I've been there loads.

Ferdinand tweeted about his Monday trip down memory lane where he met familiar faces, saying: 'Good being back at Carrington today...Great to see Kath - 56yrs at the club & still going strong!'

Part of Ten Hag's success with United has been the key members within his coaching team, with Benni McCarthy drawing widespread praise for helping get the best out of Marcus Rashford as well as other United stars.

However, despite the feel good mood around Old Trafford supporters are set to be hit in the wallets from next season with a five per cent increase set to hit their season ticket prices from next term.