The reason why so many people love football is the unpredictable nature of the sport. Having struggled under the guidance of David Moyes and Louis van Gaal, Manchester United were in danger of being cut adrift of the top Premier League clubs. However, things have changed in recent months and if Manchester United can maintain their current form, a title challenge is not out of the question.
If you mentioned the words ‘title’ and ‘Manchester United’ in the same sentence following their three defeats in September, you would have been laughed out of the room. There was no rhythm or shape to Manchester United’s play, as they went down to Manchester City, Feyenoord and Watford. However, since the match at Vicarage Road, Manchester United have lost just two of twenty-four matches in the lead up to the League Cup semi-final against Hull City. Furthermore, the Red Devils are unbeaten in their last fourteen games, winning the last eight and this puts them in their best form since September 2009.
So, what has changed, to see Manchester United emerge as a force once again, across all competitions?
Jose Mourinho has pointed to the spirit in the dressing room as being one the key factors. The Portuguese claims his players are happy, both on and off the pitch, which has made a huge difference to their performances. Mourinho was also keen to suggest results have not always matched the way Manchester United have played this season and points have been dropped despite good displays from his team.
One player who certainly looks happy after enduring a difficult start to life at Old Trafford, is Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The Armenian international was frozen out of the team after a poor showing against Manchester City earlier this season but has since earned a regular place in Mourinho’s preferred starting XI. Mkhitaryan has been showing the sort of form which made him one of the best players in the Bundesliga in recent years.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been amongst the goals, after enduring a sticky spell earlier in the campaign. The former Swedish international was on a run of seven games without a goal when Manchester United headed to Swansea at the beginning of November. Two goals in that game brought the swagger back to Ibrahimovic’s game and he has netted 12 goals in as many games, prior to the League Cup semi-final on Tuesday night. The Swede has been a revelation this season, despite many people writing him off due to his age and has already scored more goals than any other Manchester United player last season.
However, despite the new singings having stepped their game up a level it has been the introduction of a Manchester United veteran which has really changed things at Old Trafford. Michael Carrick has played sixteen games this season and Manchester United have won fourteen and drawn two. His presence as the holding midfielder player, has allowed Paul Pogba to operate further up the pitch, which has brought the best out of the Frenchman. Carrick likes to pass the ball forward whenever he can and this has been one of the big differences in the team, especially compared to last season.
With Anthony Martial, Wayne Rooney and Marcus Rashford amongst the goals against Reading on the weekend, the whole squad seems to be playing with confidence and a smile on their face. If Mourinho can mastermind a win over Hull in mid-week and their great rivals Liverpool next weekend, who knows what Manchester United could achieve this season?