Man United have a habit of stringing together wins when it looks like they’re about to crumble.
After a dismal start to the season, finishing bottom of their Champions League group and getting knocked out of Europe, Erik Ten Hag’s side haven’t lost in 2024.
From Kobbie Mainoo’s 97th minute winner against Wolves in a 4-3 humdinger, to Scott McTominay’s seventh goal of the season to snatch the three points at fortress Villa Park; things seem to be on the up at Old Trafford.
The trusted youth are currently shining for the Red Devils, but does history suggest it’ll all inevitably come crashing down?
Max Whatmough, 28, a lifelong Manchester United fan from Rochdale, said: “I very much believe that this is the start of something new.
“United have got a good thing going at the moment and it’s clear that it’s the young boys that are doing it.”
Since his first Premier League goal against Aston Villa on Boxing Day, Rasmus Hojlund has scored in each of his last four league games.
After a few scattered first-team appearances, Mainoo has made the step-up from United’s youth set-up to start the last ten games for Ten Hag.
“Mainoo is coming through now and he’s absolute quality. He’s really confident in the middle and absolutely fearless,” says fellow Man United fan, Lewis Edwards.
As for Alejandro Garnacho, he has made the starting 11 in every United game since November and more recently scored twice from the right wing against West Ham in a 3-0 victory.
United’s upturn in form is making fifth place in the Premier League a realistic prospect. Which may be enough for a Champions League spot.
This paints a narrative that Ten Hag’s trust in his youngsters is paying off. A far cry from the “bottle jobs” against Galatasaray and Copenhagen.
Whatmough added: “We will keep pushing, we’re five points away from fifth place and five points clear of seventh, so I can see us qualifying for the Champions League. In Erik we trust.”
Man United have made it a tradition over the past decade to find results when they seem to have hit rock bottom; papering over the cracks.
Edwards, 22, said: “I’d like to think it’s a resurgence and they’ll [Man United] kick on from here, but I’m well aware of what’s happened over the years and this makes me sceptical.
“It’s really topsy-turvy being a United fan; one minute you’ve bottled multiple games to finish bottom of your Champions League group and the next you’re on the cusp of the top four.”
Both Edwards and Whatmough know from bitter experience how quickly an in-form player can hit a slump. Look at Marcus Rashford. As recently as December 22nd, Sky Sports were castigating the £72 million Dane for his poor finishing.
“I do think this is going to be the start of something and can see the youngsters rejuvenating the season now that they’ve hit form at the right time.” Added Whatmough, as Man United look to shake the shackles of their recent history.