Pep Guardiola admits the togetherness on show at Manchester United is a point of difference with the Red Devils looking to mount a Premier League title charge.
The Red Devils appointed Erik ten Hag in the summer, but consecutive defeats to open the season against Brighton and Brentford dented expectations. Since then though United have enjoyed a rapid rise, winning their first trophy in six years last weekend.
Ten Hag also has the Manchester outfit within touching distance of Arsenal. United are one of only three sides to beat the Gunners this term, although they currently sit 11 points behind the league leaders with a game in hand. They haven't been ruled out of the title race having won eight of their last 11 games with Ten Hag continuing to bring about positive change at Old Trafford.
There has long been criticism levelled at United that they've been a team of individuals with a lack of commitment. Ten Hag has set about making major cultural changes in Manchester and Guardiola admits they are now a different proposition.
He said on BT Sport : "They are back. Some are happy, this reunion, happier than the other ones, but it should happen sooner or later. I said a month ago United is back. Their body languages, how they celebrate the goals, the commitment, how they run for each other - in the past it was not like that - you feel it that this is United, come on.
"Sooner or later they should be back. The strange thing about [the last] seven or eight years is that they were not there. That was the big surprise for me when I arrived seven years ago."
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United's late show in midweek saw them overcome West Ham in the FA Cup, meaning they remain on course to more silverware this term. Ten Hag maintained, in the aftermath of their Carabao Cup win, that their Wembley success was only the beginning.
Currently though City's main focus is on chasing down Arsenal, who held a five point lead going into the weekend. The Gunners were not expected to push for the title but a stellar campaign thus far has marked them out as the side to catch.
The defending champions have focussed on themselves, but Guardiola concedes they do have one eye on the side trying to take their title. "Always you take a look at the opponents," he said. "
When we are going to play here, when we prepared the game we didn’t take a look at Arsenal, or like in the past Liverpool. Obviously you take a look at how they are playing and the results that they have - we prefer they lose - so that is normal."
