Gary Neville highlighted the contributions of Mason Greenwood, Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes and Nemanja Matic as he discussed Manchester United's improved form since the turn of the year.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men have established themselves as the Premier League’s form side since January, and had dropped just two points since returning to action last month heading into Monday's game against Southampton.
That form has seen them move back into contention for a place in the top four and, with four games left in the season, Champions League qualification is in their own hands.
Analysing what has been behind United’s improvement in recent months, Neville was full of praise for the part played by Greenwood as well as United's midfield trio.
“Greenwood’s a big part of it (United's improvement),” Neville told Sky Sports before United's game against Southampton. “I think, on that right-hand side, Daniel James, he’s young but he’s very raw. I think he suits certain types of games.
“Manchester United’s problems in the last 18 months is when they’ve played against deep defences and they haven’t been able to break teams down. They’ve looked good on the counter-attack, but when they came up against a packed defence, they had no idea.
“Greenwood gives a different dimension to Martial and Rashford because he plays in little pockets, he’s better in tighter spaces than those two.
“He enables Pogba and Fernandes, which is the other part of the midfield, Fernandes in particular after coming in January, but the return of Pogba, a focused Pogba that is now staying at the club.
“Those are the three big things I’d say that have transformed the team. It looks a far more complete team.
“We can add Matic to that, in the sense that he now looks a far better player, but I think that’s because of what he’s got in front of him, as well.”
