CSKA Moscow vs Manchester United; 5 Talking Points

#1. Jose Mourinho and Manchester United show superb tactical flexibility to declare their return to the top of the pile

3 at the back, 4 at the back, 3 in the middle, 2 in the middle - it all works

When Manchester United indicated that they'd switched to a 3-4-3 formation for the traditionally tough trip to Moscow, a lot of people were worried; the pre-season had not held great portents for this formation and besides why was Mourinho try to fix something that was not just not broken but working so very well?

4 goals and a dominant 90 minutes later, we had the answer.

Because he could.

At their arrogant best, Alex Ferguson would send out his Manchester United team in any damn formation and any damn mix of personnel he deemed best to handle the opposition - regardless of what conventional wisdom might make of it - and Mourinho's matching of CSKA's formation; and beating of it; showed clearly that United are slowly but surely getting back to that level.

The back three - comprised of players unused to the system - were solid mostly while the midfield, and further upfield the forwards were simply sublime.

There's a reason everyone accepted Mourinho's self-anointed nickname of "the Special One" and the Portuguese manager seems hell-bent on reminding those of us who might have forgotten it just what the reason is.

P.S. It certainly helps when you score bucket loads of goals; Just how good have United's attacking trio been this season

United's attacking trio this season:-Lukaku:Starts - 9Goals - 10Rashford:Starts - 6Goals - 5Martial:Starts - 4Goals - 5#MUFC pic.twitter.com/r9y8l2rrei

— Everything Man Utd (@everything_utd) September 27, 2017

In a word.... WOOF!