Manchester United have endured more than their fair share of bad luck so far this season where their often excellent performances deserved all 3 points only for the game to end up with the points shared as the games ended in draws. Finally that run of luck seems to be changing as big players like Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial are imposing themselves on matches and as a result are scoring vital goals. After recording consecutive wins in their past 3 League games :

• a 1-0 home win over Tottenham Hotspur back on December 11th
• a 2-1 away win over Crystal Palace back on December 14th
• a 2-0 away win over West Bromwich Albion on December 17th

The Red-Devils have managed a 3 game League winning streak for the first time since the beginning of the season when they pulled off the feat by beating Bournemouth, Southampton and Hull City to lead the Premiership before losing their first League game to Manchester City.

United travel to the Stadium of Light next on Boxing Day, Monday 26th of December to play former boss David Moyes and his improving Sunderland squad. Moyes has enlisted the help of former United players defenders John O’Shea, Paddy McNair, Adnan Januzaj – some on loan deals and he is hoping that these players will give him insight into how to go about getting the better of their former colleagues when they meet each other on Boxing Day and also to add vital skill and experience to Everton’s squad.

With United finally reaping the rewards of their hard work and getting the results their performances have merited the former United boss, David Moyes will not be looking forward to pitting his wits against the “Special One” who is really beginning to live up to his nick-name at Old Trafford now that the results are beginning to happen.

The victory in the Europa League was a potential banana skin but Mourinho guided his team to a comfortable 2-0 win in Odessa against Zorya Luhansk qualifying for the knock-out round and he looks as though the team are getting the message as to what Jose wants from his side each time out and as a result the team are getting the results. Naturally there will be hiccups alomg the way but United are now looking like the sum of their parts and the entire squad look like they are realising playing for Jose Mourinho is not easy but it is rewarding and generally leads to winning trophies as long as you believe in the Portuguese boss and his undeniably astute tactics. Mkhitaryan and Rojo while seeming lost under Mourinho for a number of months now seem like players who respect Mourinho and are playing their best football for him as are the equisite Zlatan, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Ander Herrera plus the boss has shown that Michael Carrick is far from being finished and Jose selects him when he has an important game knowing that Carrick can deliver the goods.

So when United return to action against Sunderland a week on Sunday at the Stadium of Light, fans can look forward to a side which may feature former Reds but United are a side that is really beginning to become a “real” team and should ignore all outside influences as illustrated by their recent record since they really can beat anyone.