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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's new look Manchester United have won all seven games on the go, scoring 19 goals and conceding just 4! This run has improved United's chances of finishing in the top 4, as the club are now just 3 points away from the 4th place, as opposed to 11 points away when the Norwegian took charge.
The mood at Old Trafford, as such, is a lot brighter right now, but it is not just mere luck that United have found their lost form again. Solskjaer has been impressive with his tactics and team selection. He has also displayed a strong understanding of the game, but it is mainly the identification of his core players that has enabled United to stay strong in every game.
The Norwegian has a core set of players who are drilled in his attacking philosophy, and help instill those tactics on the pitch. Today, we take a look at the 6 outfield players who form the backbone of Solskjaer's Manchester United team.
Note: David De Gea is an automatic choice for the No. 1 spot, as such he has not been included in this list.
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#6 Victor Lindelof
The Swedish defender has been rock solid at the back under Solskjaer. He has started every Premier League match under the Norwegian and has looked a better player with each passing game. He has been helped by the team playing further up on the pitch, which has opened up a lot of space and time for him to operate.
Lindelof likes time on the ball and has the knack of setting up his offensive teammates from the back. He likes to look ahead and catch the runs of the attacking players ahead of him. As such, Solskjaer's attacking tactics have enabled him to play his natural game. He has already registered 35 accurate long balls and 1 through ball so far in the Premier League.
However, even though he has a silky side to his game, it is his defending that has improved the most under Solskjaer. His confidence has increased and he looks more settled now. Lindelof has successfully managed to match his strength with some of the most harrowing strikers in the recent games, and has not looked out of space. His tackling has also improved massively and he has a tackle success rate of 60% in the league this season.
Victor Lindelof is one of Manchester United's best players right now and his form has enabled the Premier League giants to have a quiet January so far. However, the Swede still needs a strong partner alongside him to further develop his game
#5 Nemanja Matic
Nemanja Matic is the wisdom in the United midfield that is full of poise and energy right now. The Serbian was brought to United as a defensive midfielder, a role he had regularly carried out under Mourinho. However, because of Mourinho's inclinations to sit deep, Matic was often overrun in the middle and it had cause United a lot of problems. This is why Solskjaer's arrival has suited him well.
The Serbian's foremost responsibility still involves shielding his defense, but once he is on the ball, Matic has been encouraged to find his team mates and play those cross field balls more. Because United have made good use of his passing abilities, Pogba has been able to push up in the field.
Matic is still the man with the most passes for Manchester United. He is the one who orchestrates the proceedings from the middle, the one who has the responsibilities to keep the ball ticking. Solskjaer has helped the Serbian dominate the middle of the park again and Matic is one of the pillars of this United team.
#4 Anthony Martial
The Frenchman brings a sense of uncertainty in the minds of the opposition that has worked very well for him this season. Martial has included a consistency in his game that has brought a sense of stability in the United team. He had continued his goalscoring form in a very crucial phase for the team this season and at one time, had been carrying United forward alone.
Most of the changes created by Martial previously arrived when he cut back inside from the left. Under Solskjaer, the Frenchman has also started going the other side, sending in crosses, something that has added another dimension to his game. His dribbling ability has improved massively in recent times and he has been clinical in front of goal as well.
However, what has set Martial apart has been his performances from the left side of the field. He has not put a foot wrong and has mixed his game very well so far. He has successfully relegated Alexis Sanchez to the bench, which is no mean feat. Anthony Martial is one of the most crucial pieces of Solskjaer's tactics this season and the Norwegian will be banking on the Frenchman to help United secure at least a top four spot.
#3 Ander Herrera
Ander Herrera is the most important piece of Solskjaer's midfield puzzle, because of the many qualities the Spaniard brings to the table. Under Mourinho, Herrera was mostly used as a defensive midfielder, who was rarely allowed to break free into the final third. Solskjaer has transformed Herrera into the Box to Box role that he thrives in and as a result, he has gone from strength to strength under his new manager.
To say Herrera's role is as important as Pogba's might draw a lot of criticism, but the fact that the Spaniard does almost everything on the pitch is a testament to that fact. He already leads the charts, among the United players, for interceptions and tackles and he is also among the top passers in the team. This is all in a season where he has been used sporadically in the first 17 games!
But the Spaniard's most important attribute is his intelligence. He has a proper footballing brain, and he is a very good reader of the ball. His awareness of his teammates is evident as he finds the perfect option almost every time and he is always available for a pass.
The Spaniard is as involved in defense as he is in the final third and even though he does not hog a lot of limelight, Ander Herrera is perhaps the most important United player in the team right now.
#2 Paul Pogba
Pogba has been reborn under Solskjaer, who has allowed the midfielder to play a brand of football he likes. He has been pushed forward in the team and has been asked to do his defending mostly in the opposition half. Because of the way that Solskjaer has set up the midfield, Pogba no longer has to bear all the burdens of creating chances in the team and is allowed to play without too much pressure, a situation that has worked well for the player and his team.
The Frenchman has been in the form of his life of late and has already scored 10 goals from 26 games in all competitions. Since the retirement of the legendary Paul Scholes, Manchester United have always missed a goalscoring midfielder and the Frenchman is exhibiting all the attributes to suggest that he could fill that gap.
But Pogba has not just scored, he has created some fabulous goals as well. He has already picked up 8 assists for United this season and his passing and vision have been a treat to the eye. He is Solskjaer's main creative outlet and is already looking like the most threatening midfielder in the league.
#1 Marcus Rashford
There's nothing one can say about Marcus Rashford that has not been said already. The youngster has showed tremendous will power to break free of the shackles enforced by Mourinho and is perhaps the most dangerous player in the league on current form. The fact that he has restricted Lukaku to a bench role speaks volumes of his qualities. It also shows the trust bestowed on him by his manager and it is now clear that Marcus Rashford is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's main man at Old Trafford.
If he had looked confused and disoriented under Mourinho, the Englishman has looked inspired and committed under his new boss. He is the epitome of desire, determination and confidence now. His finishing has suddenly improved and his tricks and abilities on the ball have constantly drawn comparisons to a Portuguese superstar who also broke through the ranks as a teenager.
But it is the threat that Rashford carried in his name now that has created all the difference for United. Teams have began to fear the United attack, because they know the youngster is capable of anything on current form. Rashford, in turn, has thrived in the pressures of expectations. He is, after all, United's best player right now.
