It is quite unique just how quickly the mood around a football club can change after a couple of wins.
But after producing an outstanding performance to beat Liverpool 2-1 at Old Trafford on Monday, Manchester United showed a different side to themselves to get the better of Southampton at St Mary's on Saturday afternoon. Bruno Fernandes produced a moment of quality to seal a 1-0 win for the Reds, netting a terrific volley just ten minutes into the start of the second-half.
The Portuguese connected with compatriot Diogo Dalot's cross and made no mistake to guide a crisp finish past Gavin Bazunu to claim his first goal of the season. It was a moment of class that the contest desperately needed, as United were forced to dig deep.
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United had dominated for long spells up until the goal, but they had struggled to carve out too many meaningful opportunities. Fernandes' moment of brilliance will be the standout memory for any United supporter that made the long trip south.
But after Fernandes had fired United into the lead, Southampton, as expected, increased their pressure in pursuit of an equaliser. They threw just about everything at the Reds in the closing stages, as they went in search of a point, but they failed to find a way past a stubborn United rearguard, who held out to help United record their first clean sheet on the road since a 1-0 win over Norwich last December.
It had been a very long time coming, but United showed that they have the ability to stand firm and be resolute under Ten Hag. Considering they collapsed in dramatic fashion at Brentford exactly two weeks earlier, the Dutchman deserves credit for the improvement he has masterminded so quickly.
Much of the improvement United have made in a defensive sense in the last two matches has come as a result of Raphael Varane being welcomed back into the starting line-up. He was forced to take up a watching brief against Brighton & Hove Albion and from the start against Brentford, with Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez starting the opening two games as Ten Hag's preferred partnership. But the Frenchman was recalled at the expense of Maguire for the clash with Liverpool and United have not looked back since.
The former Real Madrid man, who joined United a little over a year ago, has offered all of the qualities in each of the last two games that you would expect from a defender of his calibre and experience. Not only has he made United more resolute and calm at the back, he's also allowed Martinez to show why Ten Hag was so intent on being reunited with him in M16.
Varane has had an enormous impact in the last two matches, highlighting why he is the best central-defender at the club. Injury problems disrupted his first season in England, meaning he never got the opportunity to get into a fluid rhythm and show everyone why United were so keen on signing him. His longest sequence of consecutive starts in the Premier League last term stood at just six.
When he played, United looked far better defensively, having looked weak and disjointed without him. They conceded 32 goals in 16 Premier League games without the France international last term, compared to the 25 they shipped in 22 games with him. The stats don't lie.
United have leaked six goals without him on the pitch already this season, compared to just the one they have conceded when he has been present. He is the glue in United's backline and his importance is unquestionable.
On Friday, during his pre-match press conference, Ten Hag described Varane as "immense." His performances in each of the last two matches have shown why the Dutchman was right to make that statement.
He is now considered to be one of the first names on the teamsheet, as Ten Hag begins to familiarise himself with his best options. Varane has won just about everything there is for a player to win, including the World Cup. His reputation speaks for itself and United fans will now be praying that his injury luck from last season is nothing more than a distant memory.
United's best hope of remaining solid at the back is by having Varane present and at the peak of his powers. He is a world-class defender and has shown twice in less than a week why he has a massive part to play in Ten Hag's rebuild.
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