3 key reasons behind Manchester United’s recent resurgence 

The last week witnessed perhaps the best 4 days in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's tenure as a Manchester United manager. The Red Devils stepped into the game against Tottenham Hotspur in midweek with all odds against them. However, up against Jose Mourinho in the opposition dugout, Solskjaer gave the Portuguese a lesson in the United way, drawing a leaf out of his playing days under Sir Alex Ferguson. Manchester United dominated Spurs to win the game 2-1, quashing all signa of a club in turmoil. 4 days later, Pep Guardiola was in the eye of the United storm, his City side effectively blown away by their arch-nemesis.

Like a phoenix, Manchester United have managed to rise from the ashes and have their eyes firmly set on the top four at the moment. But what are the three key reasons for Manchester United's recent resurgence? Read on to find out.

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#3. Harry Maguire finally producing the goods consistently

Harry Maguire

Manchester United had identified the defense as the main area of concern in the summer and had broken the bank to secure Harry Maguire from Leicester City. The Englishman already looked an upgrade from the central defenders previously at Old Trafford, however, he struggled for consistency at the start of the season. United subsequently stumbled in games, with wins turning to draws due to the failure to see out games. Maguire did put in stellar shifts in quite a few games, but failed to become the galvanizing force that the backline was crying out for. All that changed when Tottenham came for a visit to Old Trafford.

Tasked with stopping a stellar Spurs attack who arrived at Old Trafford on a three-game winning streak, Maguire was massive in the heart of the backline. He emerged as one of the best players on the pitch, managing 45 accurate passes in the game, only bettered by Fred in the United team. The Englishman was powerful on the air and reduced Harry Kane to a mere spectator for the majority of the game. He had a 100% tackle success rate and did not allow anyone to dribble past him. Maguire's stellar performance ensured that United secured a deserved 2-1 win at home. The man himself, however, was only warming up.

The Englishman wore the armband for the visit to the Etihad to face Manchester City on Saturday and went on to finally justify his price tag. Maguire rose to the occasion, managing a 92% passing accuracy and expertly dealt with everything City threw at him. His composure and towering presence at the back provided United with the perfect base to build their counter-attacking foundation on. The Englishman was pivotal as United defended their lead in the second half and added a level of maturity to their game.

It is not a coincidence that United's recent turnaround in results have occurred just when Maguire seems to be hitting top form. The Englishman has been central to United's good fortunes of late and his partnership with Victor Lindelof has also given the United fans a lot of hope.

Victor Lindelof.

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#2. Marcus Rashford leading from the front

Marcus Rashford

People seem to forget that Marcus Rashford is still only 22 years, such has been the impact of the youngster since emerging on the scene under Louis van Gaal. The Englishman is in his 5th season for United and after just 21 games in all competitions, has already equaled his previous best goal-scoring return in a Manchester United shirt. Solskjaer's arrival at Old Trafford had injected a new life into a player who appeared lost in the later stages under Mourinho. If Rashford looked rejuvenated in the second half of last season, he has transformed into a menace for the opposition in the final third this term.

The Englishman's speed and power down the left have proven to be a handful for most defenses this season. When Rashford gets the ball near the box right now, there's a sense of excitement around the stands. The Englishman's ability to churn out unbelievable stunts on the pitch has kept fans the world around captivated. He has a shot like a lightning bolt, and his turn of pace is outstanding on the counter. Manchester City and Tottenham were his most recent victims, but in truth, the Englishman has performed brilliantly this season against the top 6.

Rashford has already scored 10 goals from 16 games in the Premier League so far and is currently third in the race to the golden boot. The Englishman has taken charge of the United attack and has transformed his team's recent fortunes.

#1. Fred-McTominay in midfield

Fred and Scott McTominay

Maguire has been stellar in defense, Rashford has been outstanding in attack. However, the secret to Manchester United's recent resurgence has been the midfield pairing of Scott McTominay and Fred. The two of them are very different players, but they have complemented each other brilliantly so far. The Brazilian and the Scotsman have successfully managed to nullify Paul Pogba's absence from the first team; indeed, if the last couple of games are any indication, the Frenchman might finally have some competition for his place in the team.

McTominay is the brawn in this excellent partnership, but the youngster also brings a unique drive in the middle of the park. He is always ready for a battle on the pitch and wears his heart on his sleeves. Despite his huge frame, McTominay is very mobile on the field and fits perfectly into Solskjaer's fast and fluid system. Like Solskjaer recently admitted, the Scotsman is undroppable at the moment and he is undoubtedly United's best player this season.

Fred started as the second fiddle in this midfield pairing, but the Brazilian has recently come out on his own. He matches McTominay's tenacity in the middle and works extremely hard to cover up the ground around the park. The Brazilian is relentless in his pursuit of the ball and thrives in the urgency that is the backbone of Solskjaer's counter-attacking tactics. His passing and understanding of the game have massively improved in the last few weeks. The way he helped United win the midfield battle against City and Tottenham should give United fans a lot of hope.