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What’s changed for Man Utd?
- Updated: December 20, 2016
Manchester United have moved within four points of the Champions League places after winning three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since August.
Jose Mourinho’s side followed up their victories over Tottenham and Crystal Palace with a comfortable 2-0 win against West Brom at the Hawthorns on Saturday.
The winning streak has provided a much-needed boost after a stuttering start to the season, but what’s behind their upturn in form? We look at five contributing factors…
Ibrahimovic on target again
One of United’s biggest problems throughout September and October was their inability to convert presentable scoring chances, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic only finding the net once in 11 appearances after scoring five in his first five.
The Big Swede spurned eight clear-cut opportunities during that barren period – more than any other player in the Premier League – and his misses were particularly costly in United’s defeats to Manchester City and Watford and their draws against Stoke, Burnley and West Ham.
The loss of confidence and composure in front of goal was alarming, but Ibrahimovic has rediscovered his scoring touch as quickly as it deserted him. Since netting twice in United’s 3-1 win over Swansea at the start of November, the 35-year-old has hit 10 in nine appearances.
From struggling to convert straight-forward chances, Ibrahimovic is now finding the net from all angles. His winner against Crystal Palace was a brilliantly instinctive, diagonal finish, and his second against West Brom was another reminder of his enduring ability to conjure goals out of nothing.
Ibrahimovic has also emerged as leader capable of bullying opposition defences, and with 11 Premier League goals he is now only two behind top scorer Diego Costa. His importance cannot be understated, and the veteran striker is showing no signs of fatigue.
Pogba’s best position?
Mourinho has finally settled on a system which suits Paul Pogba perfectly. The world-record signing was deployed in a number of different roles in the opening months of the season, but it is only now, with the Frenchman on the left of a midfield three as he was at former club Juventus, that he is performing to his best.
In each of United’s last three games, Pogba has had more …
