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Manchester United's season started with a narrow win against Leicester City at Old Trafford. Since then, things didn't go as planned for Jose Mourinho with the side struggling to get a consistent run of good games in all competitions. The point difference between United and leaders City now stand at fourteen with the Red Devils realistically out of the title race.
In other competitions, Jose Mourinho's side is already out of the League Cup after the defeat against Derby County whereas, in the Champions League, the group qualification still hangs in the balance.
United have one of the worst defensive records in the League this season, managing just two clean sheets in the opening thirteen matches. After the win against Juventus and a draw against Chelsea, the fans started to feel a bit optimistic but not for long. The dismal show at Etihad against Manchester City and the goalless draw against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford had pulled them back further.
However, despite all the negatives that surround Old Trafford, there has been an improvement in some of the player's performances.
Here is a list of three players who have performed better than the rest so far this season.
#3 Victor Lindelof
Victor Lindelof has recently got the 'Swedish Player of the Year' award for his performances for both club and country. Victor arrived in Manchester last season from Benfica at a reported fee of €31.50 million.
For any foreign player, it's always a challenging task to immediately settle in the Premier League. Lindelof had the skill and passing ability for a defender, but he lacked the physicality which is needed for this league. The Swedish international struggled to get a first-team place in his debut season for Manchester United.
In the current campaign, Lindelof had one of the worst performances against Brighton earlier in the season where they conceded three goals from the open play. Since then, he has significantly improved aerially and also with decision-making. It's fair to say that Victor has been the best United defender in the last few games, forming a reliable partnership with Chris Smalling. The most noteworthy performance was against Juventus in the Champions League where he gave it all to stop Ronaldo and Co. in both the legs.
#2 Luke Shaw
Luke Shaw is a prime example of hard work, determination, and self-belief. Just when it looked like his Manchester United career was over, the England international came back with a bang.
Shaw is one of the talented English full backs who started his career with Southampton. His performances drew attention from the top Premier League sides including Manchester United and Chelsea. Just a year after he signed a five-year contract with the Saints, Luke Shaw became one of the most expensive teenagers at Manchester United.
However, life has not been easy for the fullback as he would have liked at Old Trafford. He struggled with injuries since his debut season with the Red Devils. The following campaign, he suffered a leg fracture which ruled him out for the entire season. Since his return, fitness became a concern for the left-back as he struggled to get game time under Jose Mourinho.
After suffering for three years, Shaw has finally come good for United. He started the season with a goal against Leicester City which was his first for Manchester United. Luke has given some stability in the left back position which was previously missing from the side. The former Saints man is now a regular starter in the team and would like to continue the excellent form until the end of the campaign.
#1 Antony Martial
Antony Martial was a rising star at Monaco when Louis Van Gaal signed the Frenchman at a reported fee of £54 million making him one of the most expensive teenagers in the world. There were some concerns about the value of the player based on his price tag, but Martial proved everyone wrong with his performances in his debut season.
Under Louis Van Gaal, he scored his first goal against Liverpool in front of the Stretford End and also became United's top scorer in the 2015-16 campaign. Antony was awarded Premier League Player of the Month in his first month with the Red Devils.
Martial's form dipped once Jose Mourinho became the manager influenced by the Frenchman's off-field conflicts. In Jose's first two seasons as a manager, Martial mostly found himself on the bench. The arrival of Alex Sanchez in January last timeout made it even harder for Antony to get enough game time which eventually led to his exclusion from the World Cup.
However, Martial is a fan favourite, and with Alexis failing to make any substantial impact on the team, Mourinho gave Martial an opportunity to prove his worth. Since then, he has become United's top scorer so far this campaign, saving the side on numerous occasions. The most notable contribution is the double against Chelsea at the Stamford Bridge which almost won the game for the visitors.
