Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has brought the good times back to Old Trafford and life is good if you’re a Manchester United fan.
Unbeaten in the nine matches he has had since taking over from Jose Mourinho in December – even a 2-2 draw with Burnley – did little to dampen the mood which has lifted considerably in the last two months.
Still only February, there is much to play for and United supporters have plenty to look forward to in the coming weeks.
talkSPORT.com looks at reasons to be cheerful for the Red Devils.
5. Better football
Under Mourinho, the football was considered defensive and negative. While that was the trademark style of the self-proclaimed ‘Special One’ and yielded him much success, it was not what United fans had been used to witnessing.
Gone is the cautious style that seemed to suffocate the players, Solskjaer has allowed them to be more expressive, a licence to enjoy and encourage risk taking without consequence.
The likes of Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial are playing with far more flair and desire and while this team is far from the finished article, they have been a lot more enjoyable to watch in recent weeks.
4. Sancho to United
United are reportedly plotting a massive summer move for England international Jadon Sancho who has impressed for Borussia Dortmund after leaving rivals Manchester City.
He’s valued by Dortmund at around £90m and United have apparently been in contact with Solskjaer to ask which areas need strengthening and he has indicated the right hand side is a concern.
The prospect of Sancho potentially teaming up with Pogba, Marcus Rashford, Martial and Jesse Lingard is one that should have fans very excited indeed.
3. Cup run
They play a PSG side without Neymar in the Champions League last 16 and face a struggling Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth round. In recent seasons, the Blues have proven to be a thorn in the side of United in the competition, having been beaten in the final last season, and lost to the Blues in 2017 and 2013.
However, as they say, the magic of the FA Cup means anything can happen and United fans can take heart from a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge back in October, when only a stoppage-time equaliser from Ross Barkley rescued the Blues.
2. Pogba stepping up
Under Mourinho, the Frenchman would frequently find himself in the spotlight for rifts with the manager or being dropped to the bench. Now, he has rediscovered his spark and is thriving under the Norwegian’s guidance to let his football write the headlines.
A player with undoubted ability playing to his full potential, Pogba has chipped in with a number of goals and assists in recent weeks, and while his penalty technique and outlandish celebrations are not to everyone’s taste, there can be no denying the World Cup winner is currently playing the best football of his career.
1. Martial stays put
It must have come as a relief to United supporters when Martial put pen to paper on a £200,000-a-week, five-year contract this week. During the club’s difficult spells, the attacker’s form was one of the most positive aspects and it appeared at a time that he could be on his way out of the club he joined back in 2015. However, much like Pogba, the 23-year-old is relishing the chance to play without burden and both he and United are reaping the benefits as a result.