Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal revealed that he has taken steps to ensure his dressing room is a more democratic place.
The pressure on Van Gaal was intense towards end of 2015, when his team went on their worst run in 26 years.
And as he attempts to turn the situation around the Dutch man has started asking his players for more input with regard to tactics and game.
Van Gaal took the flak for that sequence of eight matches without a win, but his players must take a portion of the blame too.
"We have also changed our approach to the players to make it easier to take responsibility," he said.
"I have stimulated them to think about football.
“The game is a brain sport and now you can let them think with you and therefore you can change your approach and so the players take the commitment, for example, for the game plan and other kinds of decisions and then the commitment is higher and bigger.
"But we have to see how it shall work."
United take on Sheffield United at Old Trafford at 5.30 on Saturday in the FA Cup third round.
One manager known for his man management skills is Pep Guardiola.
The highly-rated Catalan manager announced on Tuesday his intention to move to the Premier League when he leaves Bayern Munich in the summer.
Van Gaal insists he does not feel threatened by the former Barcelona manager's declaration.
"I'm at the end of my career so for me it's not so interesting," said Van Gaal, who managed Guardiola during his two spells as Barca manager.
"For me it is interesting how I take care of Manchester United in my contract and after this season I still have one year to go."
A few weeks ago it seemed unlikely Van Gaal would have the chance to see out that contract.
The 64-year-old appeared to have ridden out the troubles until Adidas chief executive Herbert Hainer rocked the boat with his take on United's playing style this week.
Hainer, who signed off a near €1 billion sponsorship deal with United last year, said United's style is ‘not exactly what we want to see'.
Van Gaal insists he has a ‘very good’ relationship with Hainer, who was on the board at the time the Dutchman was in charge of Bayern, and played down the significance of the criticism.
"I don't think I have to respond to that kind of remark," Van Gaal said.
"For me it is interesting how I take care of Manchester United in my contract and after this season I still have one year to go." - Louis van Gaal
"I do think that is more the function of my chief executive (Ed Woodward) to respond.
"I have a very good relationship with Hainer. He was on the front row when I was at Bayern Munich earlier this season at a sponsor's event.
"He is more interested in revenues and these were very good."
