Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has switched the home and away dugouts at Old Trafford.

Upon visiting the Theatre of Dreams for the first time in May, Ten Hag recognised the need to make the change and United have granted his request.

There are several reasons for the switch which was first suggested when he was given a tour of the stadium by United's football director John Murtough.

The home dugout will now be closer to the tunnel. It will also be closer to where the substitutes warm-up during the match and the Stretford End.

Also, the dugouts are now in the same half of the pitch in which the respective home away sides warm-up before games.

United explained the change on their official website. "In a new lay-out agreed with Erik, the home and away dugouts have been permanently switched so that the United manager, staff and substitutes will now be sat in the seats to the west of the half-way line – the dugout previously occupied by the away team," the article read.

"Erik approved the move after visiting Old Trafford for the first time in May and noting how the old away dugout was closer to the tunnel, and to the half of the pitch where substitutes warm up.  

"Switching sides will also position the home staff and players closer to the Stretford End – the traditional heart of the home support – and align the dugouts with the halves of the pitch in which the home and away teams warm up before the game."

United fans have been impressed by Ten Hag's attention to detail since his arrival at the club. Several clips of his training sessions have gone viral while stories of his meticulous nature have been shared by those closest to him.

Steve McClaren, who has returned to the club as Ten Hag's assistant, explained the detail the United boss went in to while at Twente.

“We were starting pre-season training the day after I was appointed,” McClaren told The Athletic. “He brought out this folder, and there were six weeks worth of pre-season training planned in there. Every minute of every day was laid out, from drinks sessions to warming down, to individual work. It was so detailed. I’d not seen anything like it before, and I’ve not seen anything like it since.”

Ten Hag will take his seat at United's home ground for the first time this weekend as they face Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.

It will give supporters the opportunity to catch a glimpse of new signings Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez for the rest time after their moves were confirmed earlier this week. Neither have featured for the Red Devils in pre-season so far.

United then kick off their Premier League campaign at home to Brighton next Sunday.