It came in the 26 th minute; a flurry of slick and sharp passes inside their own third that quickened when Lisandro Martinez broke the lines to send Tyrell Malacia foraging forward. Defence to attack.
“United, United, United,” the away-dayers roared. This was a glimpse of the identity Erik ten Hag was hired to install, an incisive and progressive approach played out well within earshot of the United following. David de Gea was even unflustered in playing the ball outside of his area. A new United way, perhaps.
The mood at United has shifted as drastically as their budget in the second half of August. The supporters continue to chastise the Glazer family and demand their removal and those chants will not abate. United supporters greeted the full-time whistle with another rendition of "We want Glazers out".
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The atmosphere is undeniably more buoyant and the players are safe from hearing "You're not fit to wear the shirt" for now. "We love United, we do," they were informed as they approached the travelling section.
At times, it was too straightforward and serene against a Leicester team almost as disillusioned as their supporters. United were not creative enough in the first-half and within five minutes of the restart James Maddison stung De Gea's palm. Mercifully for United, James Justin hit the ball like a full-back with his one-shot in added time.
Whatever the mitigation of Leicester's basement-club status and the disarray their transfer window ended in, United were authoritative against a team (and, in recent years, a rival) who had beaten them three times and drawn twice in their last five meetings.
Leicester away last season sparked a spectacular spiral that signalled the beginning of the end for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. This may retrospectively be remembered as the true beginning of the Ten Hag reign.
"Ten Hag's Red and White Army" got its heartiest airing on the road. There were so many paeans to Solskjaer than your average away day you wondered whether he was among the throng.
It was all the more impressive in an unchanged side that unconvincingly eked out a win at Southampton five days earlier. Ten Hag is still to start United's headline arrivals Casemiro and Antony, the latter unavailable at Leicester.
Casemiro was introduced tactically before the hour to plug the gaps Leicester had started to probe. The Brazilian passes as though it is a fineable offence to go backwards and while vigilant Casemiro deems attack to be the best form of defence.
United have won three successive games for the first time since April 2021 and had last strung three league wins together in September last year. That upturn in form is critical with Arsenal due at Old Trafford on Sunday to defend their 100 per cent record.
Cristiano Ronaldo's presence confirmed once and for all he was devoid of an exit route and his entrance afforded the United fans the opportunity to deify one of their greatest players. Ronaldo will be treated to such veneration for at least four more months.
It is maybe not a coincidence Ronaldo was more purposeful and penetrative with the window about to shut. Lethargic at Southampton, he was lithe as United ticked down the clock and they should have won more comfortably.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka was absent with a “small complaint” when it might be a big one. It is impossible to imagine Wan-Bissaka possessing the vision to execute the perceptive pass Diogo Dalot pinged that exposed Leicester. Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford hit their cues to put Jadon Sancho through for the only goal.
Sancho did not claim his first United goal until November last year and in a season where United are short of prolific goalscorers to choose from they need their wingers to be tallying well into double figures.
At the other end, Raphael Varane and Martinez's partnership is burgeoning. Martinez advised United fans not to return the ball so hastily at Southampton and in Leicester he was chest-bumping Dalot in celebration at a goal kick and in the referee's ear demanding a booking for Youri Tielemans.
A United fan unfurled an Argentina flag as Martinez sauntered towards them with the game over. "Argentina," they chanted repeatedly. Varane has reiterated in the last few fixtures he is United's most important player.
The natives were uncharacteristically humdrum, eventually stirred by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s foul on Scott McTominay in the 11th minute. Even that was greeted with congratulatory hand-clasping by Dalot for the Scot and Varane as United neutered a sudden attack. Dalot was in cheerleading mode again when Martinez dominated an aerial duel with the pesky Jamie Vardy.
“Champions of England – more recent than you,” was the best the Leicester fans could muster in response to the raucous United fans revelling in their world championship status "once more than England".
Vardy, so often the scourge of United, was hooked into the last five minutes to the soundtrack of "Rooney, Rooney, Rooney" - a reference to his wife's infamous day in court with Mrs Rooney. "Jamie Vardy, your wife is a grass," the United fans heckled.
That is the United way.
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