The Red Devils have been impressive in their opening games of the season.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho before the game
Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has restored the fear factor to Old Trafford and made the club dominant once again, reports the Daily Mirror.
United are riding high after an opening three games which has seen them claim the Community Shield and defeat Bourmenouth and Southampton in their opening Premier League games.
Mourinho has also brought in the likes of Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with the latter making a blistering start to life in England, having scored four goals in his first three appearances.
Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba
Ex-United man Ferdinand was happy to see the change Mourinho has brought to the Red Devils in such a short time, fully confident that sides are now beginning to fear United again.
“What it looks like is teams are in the tunnel looking across and saying ‘oh that’s Zlatan [Ibrahimovic], oh that’s [Paul] Pogba’ and that is what it used to be like,” Ferdinand said.
“You used to win the games in the tunnel sometimes.
“They still have to prove that, they get it initially but they have to go out and prove it and, including the Community Shield [win over Leicester] they have done that.
“That fear factor will start to grow the longer they go on and win.”
Ferdinand continued to pay tribute to Mourinho, pinpointing the Portuguese as the reason for the shift in feeling in and around the club.
Rio Ferdinand
“The biggest change for them, other than the players they have bought, is the mentality shift,” he continued.
“Under Van Gaal for the last two years there’s been a negative vibe around, not only the football team, but the place.
“I think that’s changed with Mourinho and one of his biggest obstacles would have been to change the mentality of the players, from playing sideways and trying to nick games here and there to being a team that dominates physically, tactically and all over the park.
“It’s a huge shift for them this season.”
United are certainly a stronger side than last season with their summer acquisitions, and it is likely that their line-up will cause opponents further concern as the Premier League campaign rolls on.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho before the match
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