Manchester United, while having been rightly accused of lacking quality in recent times, have often shown an attitude lamented even by managers. And just short of three weeks ago, the conversation was very much centred around an absence of any willingness as United fell to an emphatic 4-0 defeat against Brentford.
But things are starting to change. United's response against Liverpool following on from their West London pummelling came in accordance with a stark mentality shift. Then, against Southampton, the side ground out a victory - it wasn't the prettiest but a win testament to a show of determination.
While eyebrows were raised when Erik ten Hag named an unchanged side for the third consecutive match against Leicester City on Thursday night, it was understandable that the manager stuck with a side that had shown themselves to be within a more promising vein of from. Of course, this meant leaving esteemed names such as Casemiro and Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench (hence the raised eyebrows from some). But the manager showed admirable guts to name the same starting XI again. And this decision quickly proved a canny one.
Before long, United gained a firm grip on proceedings at the King Power Stadium, promptly establishing certain vulnerabilities of Leicester's defensive transition and defensive set-up as a whole. And halfway through the opening period, United took the lead by exploiting their opposition's openness. Leicester were undone by a sharp, fast-tempo move featuring effective one-and-two touch build-up.
All involved for United appeared very much on the same wavelength, with an understanding between players that hasn't always been apparent. It was a move that commenced with Diogo Dalot controlling a high ball before playing an exquisite through ball into Bruno Fernandes, who shifted the ball onto Marcus Rashford. Well-timed movement was key, with Fernandes and Rashford both finding space well.
Rashford ultimately showed composure to take a touch and pass to Jadon Sancho, who was in space and rounded goalkeeper Danny Ward to finish into an empty net. Sancho showed a quick train of though as well as excellent judgement to anticipate Ward's movement out of his goal, yet again displaying control to oust the goalkeeper and engineer an opening for a simple goal; it was very similar to his one other goal so far this season against Liverpool, where a turn left both James Milner and Alisson on the floor.
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There is certainly a sense that United are growing in confidence. Even if still not on a consistent enough basis, they are managing to string together more slick moves that defences are struggling to prevent. Goals against all of Liverpool, Southampton and Leicester showed the impact of greater cohesion, with greater volumes of more fluid interplay on display as the team continually gels.
Scott McTominay is an individual who showed particular improvement having put in a worthy shift against Liverpool that has seen him maintain his place in Ten Hag's side since. He set the tone for much of United's control in proceedings against Leicester - more assured in his passing while displaying the usual combative, hardworking side of his game. He was more involved than he sometimes is, offering a greater presence through higher security in possession. The partnership formed with Christian Eriksen operated well, with the Dane typically an important dictator of possession, keeping things ticking over as always.
Developments by way of McTominay's performance correlated with an improvement in United's dealings in possession on the whole, not only through the midfield. Such assurance on the ball started from the defence, with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez both having proven themselves as being technically sound, helping to build from the back. Combine this with their commanding defensive output and it is easy to see why they appear Ten Hag's first choice pairing at present.
Martinez has been gaining plenty of credit as the aggressor within the pair, and rightly so. But it is largely down to Varane's consistent nature and awareness of danger - leading to an ability to sweep up in threatening situations - that Martinez is afforded a platform to use his aggression.
Also important to United's functionality has been their full-backs, who have shown both adaptability and crucial intent up and down the pitch. Both Diogo Dalot and Tyrell Malacia are always on the move - running back and forth as well as shifting inside and out to offer themselves as options in possession. They are offering the sort of movement that can go a distance to disjointing opposing teams.
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The start of the second half marked a swing in momentum, with United largely dropping off the pace and ceding much of their control. Similarly, criticism was warranted by the fact that too many moves were breaking down before any end product could be found; United had to be more decisive at times inside the final third in order to kill the game off when Leicester were at their weakest.
Again, Ten Hag showed no hesitation in making chances in attempt to rectify lapses in areas that United were struggling in. Casemiro was introduced around the hour mark in place of Anthony Elanga, adding an extra midfield body to the fold in attempt to re-establish a foothold. Then Ronaldo, who is now guaranteed to stay at the club until at least January with the summer transfer window shut, was introduced within the 10 minutes after, replacing Sancho in attempt to engineer more of a goal-scoring threat.
Ronaldo was sprightly once having entered the fray, not remotely alien to the more developed link-up play that United were producing. At one stage, he came close with an almost-vintage bicycle kick - he didn't seem like someone uncomfortable in their current situation.
Most importantly though, when placed on the back foot, United's defence showed spirit once again. Their commitment to the cause was mightily impressive, giving the impression that a clean sheet to them was as worthy to fight for as a goal for the attack. That hasn't always seemed the case recently - a major marker of the ongoing mentality shift.
At one stage, Dalot celebrated winning a goal-kick after blocking a Harvey Barnes cross as though he had scored a goal. It was a very Martinez-like reaction to a defensive action - a sign that the Argentine's passionate nature is rubbing off.
On the whole, the security offered by the defence was to the extent that you still felt that United were in control even when they weren't dominating the ball. The form shown by the defence offers a sense comfort to supporters that has been absent in recent times, with a faith that the defence are no longer bound to concede when placed under any sort of pressure.
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United's last two matches have both been gritty single-goal victories on the road. But, evidenced by the fact that they lost seven away matches prior to beating Southampton, it is entirely likely that this sort of match would have gone the opposite way last season.
Maybe the football on display from United isn't always remarkable at the moment, but there have been passages to suggest the capabilities of this team are high. Couple that with the improvements in attitude, and it is easy to see that there is plenty of potential in this side.
Right now, Erik ten Hag's Manchester United side looking right up for whatever faces them. The task now is to sustain that.
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