5 reasons why Manchester United have improved since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over from Jose Mourinho

The players have stepped up individually

Giving the players freedom has, without doubt, helped improve a number of the players game. But the players themselves have to step up at some point too to produce the goods. Only eleven men can cross the white line, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can’t.

The stats back this up too. Marcus Rashford, who had scored only three Premier League goals in 14 appearances under Mourinho this season, has now scored five in his last six since Solskjaer arrived.

Similarly, in the same number of games under Mourinho, Paul Pogba had scored or registered an assist six times. And prior to the Cardiff match when the Norwegian first took over, Pogba has been involved in nine goals.

All the ingredients listed in this article – manager bounce, feel-good factor, the removing of the shackles – have allowed these players to step up their game. However, the players themselves haven’t half taken their chances.