Harry Maguire has admitted Man Utd stars have let themselves down this season due to a lack of consistency.
The newly-appointed United skipper has had to navigate a frustrating campaign which saw former club Leicester mount an early title challenge while he and his new employers struggled to find their form.
United have turned their results and performances around in recent months, racking up an 11-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
But despite their improved fortunes, Maguire still rues some of the displays from earlier in the season where points have gone begging.
"As a Red, our toughest opponent, probably, is ourselves," Maguire told a fans Q&A. "I would say that, at times this year, as a team, we have probably let ourselves down by being a bit too inconsistent. Not just for a full game but during games.
"There have been times when we've been so good in games and then we've come off it a bit and been punished. So I'd say our toughest opponent is ourselves.
"We need to be mentally strong. We are a young group but we don't really want to use that as an excuse. We want to be young but play mature. That is where we have really picked up in recent weeks."
United still have a chance of ending the season on a high if it resumes, as they battle success on three fronts.
They are just three points off fourth-placed Chelsea in the Premier League table, while having also reached the FA Cup quarter final and on course to reach the same stage of the Europa League.
And Maguire has signalled his intentions to help bring the glory days back to United.
"I have joined this club because I want to win trophies and I want to get silverware," he declared. "When I look back on my time at Manchester United, I want to make sure I have some trophies in that cabinet."
