Considering Cristiano Ronaldo has dominated the headlines from a Manchester United persuasion this week, it is somewhat easy to forget that the Reds signed off for the World Cup break with a bang last weekend.
Alejandro Garnacho's 93rd-minute winner against Fulham at Craven Cottage last Sunday evening ensured that United signed off for the pause within touching distance of the top-four. They are in fifth and are just three points shy of the coveted Champions League places.
It means they will be able to restart their season against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on December 27 with confidence flowing through veins, believing that they can achieve the top-four finish that they are desperate for this term. Although United have experienced one or two bumps in the road so far this season, the positives outweigh the negatives by a long way.
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Inspired by the new culture and mindset that has been installed by manager Erik ten Hag, United are a different animal to what they were last season, even if they did crumble in dramatic fashion against both Brentford and Manchester City. Nevertheless, every team, especially one still in a transitional period, is bound to experience a bad day at the office now and again.
However, Ten Hag has done far more good than bad so far, meaning United, even if only slowly, are a club heading in the right direction again. The squad is now getting to grips with Ten Hag's demands and the way that he wants his team to play.
But it is not only in a collective sense where Ten Hag has so far prospered; numerous individuals have so far flourished under his management style and coaching methods. He has instilled a new belief into the minds of several players, who have since flourished in helping United, as a collective, make sufficient progress in a very short space of time.
The likes of Diogo Dalot, who missed last Sunday's 2-1 win over Fulham through suspension, Raphael Varane, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Garnacho, albeit all in different ways, have all kicked-on this season, each taking their respective games to a new level.
Dalot has established himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet; Varane has performed like the defender he was at Real Madrid; Rashford has been revitalised; Martial has threatened to rekindle his career again; and Garnacho has been born. All of that is down to Ten Hag's management and methods.
As surprising as some elements have been, such as Dalot's importance and Martial's impressive form when fit, Ten Hag has a knack of improving most players he gets the chance to work with, certainly in the opinion of summer signing Antony. The Brazilian, during his time at Ajax with Ten Hag, waxed lyrical about the Dutchman's ability to improve just about any player he gets the chance to work with.
"Every player under his guidance becomes a better footballer through his training," Antony told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf during his time in the Netherlands. "Since my arrival, he has given me a lot of confidence and believed in what I can do."
Antony was not kidding. The improvement in several individuals has been startling so far this season, meaning Ten Hag, as well as his wider team of coaching staff, deserves credit for the job he has done so far.
United are continuing to make progress under Ten Hag collectively, but the improvement in several individuals already is one of the most encouraging signs of the Dutchman's premiership. United got it bang-on the money in choosing Ten Hag to lead them through their next chapter.
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