Suddenly, Manchester United are out of the danger zone and showing signs of a strong push after four consecutive Premier League wins, including Sunday's 2-1 win at Luton Town.
Television images of youngsters Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo sitting together and smiling on the Stretford End billboards after a recent goal against West Ham seemed to symbolize a new, more optimistic mood at Old Trafford. There is a new faith, dynamism, intensity and resilience at United, and their winning streak means they are just three points behind fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur. This season's top five look likely to qualify for the Champions League, given England's coefficient in European competition.
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For now, the pressure is off coach Erik Ten Hag, who has faced months of doubts and uncomfortable questions about his suitability for the job despite winning a trophy (Carabao Cup) and finishing in the top four last season.
Rumors spread that some players were 'not counting', but his bravely hardline approach in dealing with disciplinary issues with Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho are starting to look like battles he has won. A team that seemed sleepwalking during some autumn games now appears lively, as evidenced by a thrilling 4-3 win over Wolves and 2-1 wins in two demanding away games at Aston Villa and Luton. . This past weekend, the defense stood the test against the home team's turbocharged style and stream of dangerous crosses.
Two months ago, the United team that lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth and finished last in their Champions League group (behind Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen) after a soft 1-0 defeat to Bayern of Munich would almost certainly have been defeated at Villa Park. and Kenilworth Road.
At that time, only Sheffield United, who were at the bottom of the table, had scored fewer goals. United's start to the season was their worst for 60 years and, surprisingly, none of their forwards scored a goal at Old Trafford before Christmas. So what has helped the Ten Hag team overcome the situation?
For starters, they seem eager to score with every attack and Hojlund, who failed to find the net in his first 14 Premier League games, has become the youngest player in the modern era to score in six consecutive games in the highest English category. Quick and skilful, and able to take advantage of defenders to score or create opportunities for his teammates, the now confident Danish striker looks like an interesting property.
Similarly, Argentine winger Alejandro Garnacho, white-blonde, scares defenses with his speed, guile and eye for goal. The bicycle kick he scored against Everton remains the most impressive moment of the season to date.
Then there's Rashford, seemingly back in the fold after his drunken night in Belfast and his subsequent omission from the FA Cup tie at Newport County. He returned with a goal against Wolves and, it is fair to say, Ten Hag and his team-mates will have left him in no doubt that further indiscretions will not be tolerated. A figure of five goals in 23 games is still well short of his 17 goals in the league last season, but he is playing his part in a threatening front three.
The Reds' resurgence also dates back to the introduction of 18-year-old Mainoo into the defensive midfield role. He made a brilliant debut in the 3-0 win over Everton and has the composure of a player 10 years older. He looks like a certain future England star.
André Onana's goalkeeping has improved after a shaky start, Diogo Dalot has been outstanding at full-back, Harry Maguire has returned from a “football Siberia” to once again anchor the back four, while the return of Luke Shaw and Casemiro After an injury they have brought more experience and leadership to the group. (A word of caution: the latter's disciplinary record, with nine yellow cards in his last 11 appearances, makes him something of a liability.)
Despite his occasional petulance, club captain Bruno Fernandes remains an unstoppable player, although Ten Hag would like to return to the form that earned him 18 goals and 12 assists in his first season with the club. (This season, he has just three goals and five assists in 23 league games).
United's critics could argue, with some justification, that this team is still nowhere near the level of the current elite (Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal) and that they have ridden their luck in one or two recent wins. They are far from the finished article, but they are certainly on the right track.
The acquisition of the football side of the operation by billionaire and United fan Sir Jim Ratcliffe promises to send a storm flying through the corridors of a famous club that, although still making a lot of money, had fallen behind its main rivals in some inept transfer deals, such as paying more than £80m for Ajax's disappointing Antony and £60m for Mason Mount, who had rather been lost at Chelsea and has been seriously injured so far this season.
United have hired a new CEO (Omar Berrada) away from local rivals Manchester City and want Newcastle's highly-rated Dan Ashworth as their new sporting director to spearhead recruitment. There is also talk of United building a “Wembley of the North” as a new stadium to replace the aging Old Trafford.
The amount of investment possible in the first team could be tempered by Financial Fair Play and Profit and Sustainability (PSR) rules, but it would be a surprise if Ratcliffe and his team didn't make some kind of major impact on the market. this summer. Although to achieve this, it is vital that they can offer potential signings the opportunity to play in the Champions League.
Will Sir Jim's winds of change sweep away Ten Hag and bring in a new manager? Maybe not in his current form, but the former Ajax boss is not the appointment of the new regime and United still have to play Liverpool and Arsenal at home, as well as Manchester City away.
It will be fascinating to see if their resurgence can overcome such tough tests, but the hints of a comeback to salvage what once seemed to be turning into a nightmare season are definitely starting to appear.
