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that the club used to have under Sir Alex Ferguson.

“We are ready.” said Solskjaer. “I went to see PSG against Lyon the other night and they do get competition in France.

‘‘We should not underestimate the quality of the French League. They will be ready.

“It is unfortunate that Neymar cannot play. The crowd want to see the best players.

“I have played a couple of games when we played Real Madrid and Ronaldo and Figo and all those were coming to Old Trafford – that gives it an extra edge.”

Style

Forget Fulham, they are a mess. They were heading down even before United made it eight defeats in nine.

Their fans need to get behind Claudio Ranieri instead of telling a man who lifted the title with Leicester three years ago that he doesn’t know what he is doing. But back to United. There is an important point to be made about Mourinho. His record speaks for itself but for him to return to elite level football he will surely have to change.

His autocratic style of management simply no longer works with staff or players who demand respect and respond to it. Solskjaer isn’t necessarily on this run because he is a tactical genius.

He is on it because he respects his stars and treats them like men. Players are once again committing themselves to the club because going to work is fun again for them.

Ask Anthony Martial, scorer of a superb solo second goal.

Or two-goal Paul Pogba, scorer of eight in nine league games under Solskjaer compared to just five in five months under Mourinho.

“It is his joy,” said Pogba of the new man in charge.

“He is just himself. He is not acting. He gives joy to everyone. He is giving confidence to everyone – and you can see it on the pitch.”