If you had told any Manchester United supporter in the aftermath of the 4-0 defeat to Brentford back in August that the club would enter 2023 camped inside the top four you can guarantee that they would have snapped your hand off.
United, less than a week on from losing 2-1 to Brighton & Hove Albion on the opening day of the season in their first competitive fixture under Erik ten Hag, were beaten up and spat back out again by the Bees, leaving them bottom of the Premier League table. All of the optimism and excitement that had been generated by the Dutchman's appointment and collection of new signings had been sucked back out again.
But after forcing his players, the following day, to cancel their day off, report to the club's training ground and run 13.8km in sweltering heat, United and Ten Hag have not looked back. It was that moment that transformed their fortunes, even if there have still been one or two bumps in the road since then.
