With Jose Mourinho’s team extending their winning run to six matches in a comeback victory brimming __with style and spirit, Manchester United fans can be forgiven for thinking that perhaps a return to the glory days is not as far away as it once seemed during the dark days of last Christmas.
The home fans at Old Trafford were treated to some thrilling New Year’s Eve entertainment as United attacked relentlessly, securing three more points __with a dramatic, late, come-from-behind victory over stubborn Middlesbrough. If there is such a thing as the United Way, this might have been it.
It seemed for so long that United slipped back into the bad habits that preceded their winning run. They were dominant, too-often wasteful and occasionally lax at the back. But buoyed by their recent form, there was a different aura about the hosts, a confidence and a belief that hasn’t been felt at Old Trafford for too long.
Boro deserve credit for keeping out United for 85 minutes, with Victor Valdes in inspired form on his return to his former club as his defenders threw themselves in the way of anything that moved. But in the face of 32 shots – 12 on target – they were always likely to be breached.
By this United side, at least. Six weeks ago, frustration may have got the better of the hosts as chances came and went and decisions favoured the visitors. The call to disallow Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s 38th-minute strike was baffling, or infuriating if you’re Mourinho, who chose to laugh it off rather lash out at the nearest prop or official as he probably would have done earlier in the winter.
David De Gea tells #MUTVHD: "This is the Manchester United everyone knows." #MUFC pic.twitter.com/XTArnZvtzB
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 31, 2016
That blow took the wind out of United before half-time and perhaps they were fortunate that it came so close to the break. Mourinho could get his side in and refocus their minds, seeing to it that the start of the second half followed a similar pattern to most of the first.
As the visitors continued to frustrate United, Mourinho made the move to replace Marouane Fellaini with Juan Mata – a substitution the Portuguese may have been more reluctant to make only a few weeks ago, given the concession of a physical presence. But like his team, Mourinho is growing into his surroundings.
Boro’s goal, when it came three minutes after the change, was not a consequence of it. For perhaps the first time all afternoon, Boro were simply quicker to the ball and sharper to react, with Alvaro Negredo peeling off the returning Chris Smalling to nod the ball into the bath of the untracked Grant Leadbitter.
United, though, were too dominant with too much attacking prowess for the home support to lose faith. And Mourinho again made a positive change.
When Marcus Rashford was being readied to come on, it was presumed it would be a like-for-like swap. But with Ibrahimoivc providing an effective pivot; Anthony Martial at his most impressive for months; Henrikh Mkhitaryan probing successfully; and Juan Mata only just dispatched from the bench, whoever might have been sacrificed from that quartet would have reason to feel aggrieved.
Mourinho, though, withdrew a centre-half and changed the shape to get all of Ibrahimovic, Martial, Rashford, Mkhitaryan and Mata on the pitch, with Paul Pogba bombing into the box too.
In the face of such firepower, it’s no surprise Boro eventually wilted, when Ibrahimovic nodded into Martial’s path and the Frenchman finally beat Valdes at the fourth attempt.
It would have been a familiar feeling for Sir Alex Ferguson sat in the stands on his 75th birthday but not many of the fans around him, wearied and worn down by the approach of the Scot’s two successors. As soon as Martial’s shot nestled in the net, the cavalry was being repositioned for further onslaught. There was no thought of consolidation or, given the forward-heavy make-up of the team, reorganistion from Mourinho.
‘Attack, attack, attack’ remained the objective and the three points were deservedly secured when Pogba powered a header into the top corner following Mata’s cross.
That feeling… 🔥🔥🔥. C'mon @ManUtd 🔴! Great comeback! #mufc pic.twitter.com/uOctWk1f4x
— Juan Mata García (@juanmata8) December 31, 2016
Six wins in succession in all competitions makes for a very tidy finish to the year for the Red Devils, but it’s also the manner of those victories that makes 2017 such an exciting prospect. The brilliance of Mkhitaryan against Tottenham and David Moyes’ Sunderland; Ibrahimovic and Pogba’s blossoming understanding in the late away win at Palace; Zlatan’s double and the dominance of West Brom; the spirit of today – it all points to the huge difference Mourinho is gradually making at Old Trafford.
Manchester United are now 12 games unbeaten in all competitions, most since Sir Alex Ferguson retired. #MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtdUpdates_) December 31, 2016
The manager was being hammered in the press and by many fans on social media, but match-going Reds have been steadily encouraged with what they have been watching for the last few months. Given this time last year, Louis van Gaal’s United were coming off the back of six without a win, including consecutive defeats to Stoke, Norwich and Bournemouth in which they manged only one more shot in three games combined compared to what they served up today, it is no wonder the supporters are enjoying what they are seeing.
They may still sit just outside the top six and a title charge might just be beyond them. But with the style and spirit now provoking memories of the Ferguson era, all the signs also point to a traditional second-half-of-the-season charge from Mourinho’s United.
Ian Watson