Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is still deflecting questions, but the questions have changed. At the start of November, he was asked if his players would get him the sack. By the end of December, the queries were if Manchester United are in a title race.
A surge from 15th to second and a haul of 23 points from nine unbeaten games have changed perceptions, a season and, perhaps, a regime. Solskjaer no longer has to worry about the threat of Mauricio Pochettino, his supposed successor instead destined for Paris Saint-Germain.
The man mocked for his slender managerial CV could do something that the Champions League winners Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho did not and at least take United close to a 21st league title.
They finished second in 2018, but it was a distant second, 19 points behind Manchester City. They have not mustered a true title challenge since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
Fresh from scoring Tuesday's injury-time winner against Wolves, Marcus Rashford said it would be "stupid" to look at the table. Solskjaer pronounced his own answer "boring". United had only played 15 games, he noted. "Get to 30 and then maybe we can start talking about a title race, when you get to March or April," he said.
If caution feels advisable, given the topsy-turvy nature of Solskjaer's reign, when United have veered in and out of brilliant runs and awful spells, their season may give additional reasons to postpone a verdict. It is not merely that United have lost 6-1 at home; the last time they did that, in 2011/12, only an injury-time goal deprived them of the title.
It is the illogical nature of it. Most title tilts are built on home form. Take out the 6-2 thrashing of Leeds and United have only scored four goals, two of them penalties. Their away record is contrastingly brilliant, with 19 points from 21 and 21 goals, but they are yet to visit any of the big six.
David de Gea made a brilliant save against Wolves but United conceded two goals in each of their three previous games. Titles tend to be won by teams with either the best or second-best defensive record and, while United’s statistics may feel distorted by their 6-1 thrashing by Tottenham when they were reduced to 10 men, only six sides have let in more goals.
Not every champion team ticks every box. Liverpool triumphed last year even though their centre-forward, Roberto Firmino, did not score at Anfield until the final home game.
Now United’s No 9, Anthony Martial, has a solitary league goal. Their biggest summer signing, Donny van de Beek, has been limited to two league starts. This is not a conventional formula for glory.
And yet their charge up the table reflects on two catalysts. Rashford may not yet be clinical but he has acquired the substance to carry on making telling contributions.
Bruno Fernandes is arguably the Premier League’s player of 2020. His time in the division has brought 18 wins and just three defeats, yielding 62 points from 29 games.
His personal contribution extends to 18 goals and 14 assists, the latest the raking, cross-field ball for Rashford on Tuesday. He is the game-changer: in individual matches and in the context of campaigns.
United's next away league game represents the biggest test of their credentials: it is away at Anfield, and it was Mourinho's last stand as he was sacked after Liverpool recorded 36 shots in a 3-1 win.
Solskjaer is safe from the same fate now but in a season when Leicester, Everton, Aston Villa, Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea have all been in the top two, it could determine if United will prove Liverpool’s closest challengers.
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Leicester City v Man United player ratings
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LEICESTER CITY RATINGS: Kaspar Schmeichel - 7: Left woefully exposed after just two minutes but was relieved/stunned to see Rashford head over from a few metres out. No chance with either goal after being left one-on-one on both occasions. Brilliant one-handed stop to deny Rashford a second goal on the hour. EPA -
James Justin - 6: Dangerous cross into box from right wing in first five minutes that Vardy couldn’t finish. Completely caught out by Fernandes touch that allowed Rashford acres of space to open scoring. Reuters -
Jonny Evans - 6: Oblivious to Rashford danger when United attacker was left totally free in box ahead of his glaring early miss. Not a particularly commanding performance from the former United defender. Reuters -
Wesley Fofana - 7: Superb composed defending just after break to stop James baring in on goal after Evans had been taken out of game by Martial stepover. Beaten to header by Maguire as Foxes old boy headed over from corner in second half. Reuters -
Timothy Castagne - 6: Attempted a few give-and-goes in first half and was always looking to drive forward down the left although was sloppy in possession at times. Found his passing range just before hour mark with great ball behind defence to put Barnes away down wing. Getty -
Marc Albrighton - 6: Good pass over top of United defence for Vardy early on but striker caught offside. Generally wasn’t given any time on the ball by United - and Shaw in particular - to produce his usual early balls into box. Getty -
Wilfred Ndidi- 8: Nicked ball away from Fernandes in run-up to Barnes goal with trademark tackle. Like having N’Golo Kante back in the Foxes midfield the way he intercepted and broke down attacks. Getty -
Youri Tielemans - 6: Caught ball watching when Fernandes was allowed free header in box in first half but redeemed himself minutes later with vital sliding tackle to halt a dangerous United counter-attack. Getty -
Harvey Barnes - 7: Had contributed very little, bar blocking shot from teammate Tielemans with his arm, before producing wonderful left-footed strike to make it 1-1 with Leicester’s first shot on target after half-an-hour. Equals his best season in front of goal with seven in all competitions. PA -
James Maddison - 7: The No 10 cut a slightly frustrated figure in first half as he made little impact against the United defence. Saw well-struck free-kick in dangerous position deflected over bar just after half-time. Much more influential after break as he looked to pull the strings in attack. Booked for cynical foul on Fernandes. Reuters -
Jamie Vardy - 7: Would have been pleased to see offside flag after putting early chance wide when put clear. Powder-puff left-footed effort that trickled to De Gea after 25 minutes. Little other opportunity in front of goal but the ruthless striker showed his predatory instincts with low finish five minutes from time, although the 33-year-old was denied a 12th league goal of the season after it was adjudged an own-goal following deflection off Tuanzebe. EPA -
SUBSTITUTES: Ayoze Perez – (On for Albrighton 81’) N/A. Superb drilled ball into box from Spaniard for Vardy’s late leveller. Poked another chance wide although had been flagged offside anyway. Getty -
MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea - 6: Poor footwork saw him mess up and put team under pressure early on. Could have reacted quicker for Leicester’s goal, but players in front of him more at fault. PA -
Victor Lindelof - 4: Struggled to settle at right-back with Aaron Wan Bissaka out injured. It’s one area United need cover. Played with a back injury this season, which looked to have been triggered again as he came off injured after 65 minutes. PA -
Harry Maguire - 6: Like rest of defence, uneasy in first half. Got forward for set pieces in second but United’s defence was fantastic recovering as Leicester countered. Reuters -
Eric Bailly - 7: Did well at Everton midweek and earned call out. Unfortunate handball led to a free kick, but gave ball to Cavani which led to equaliser. Most United passes and his pace was needed against Vardy. Another impressive game. Getty -
Luke Shaw - 7: Pushed forward on the left and almost had a first-half assist. Creates chances from defence. Doing well this season and United’s best defender again. AFP -
Scott McTominay - 6: Didn’t face up to Barnes for Leicester’s equaliser when he needed to stop shot. Strong as ever, but none of the heroics we saw from him at Leeds. EPA -
Fred - 6: Cut out balls but team was overrun in central midfield. Stupid to concede late free-kick and too many of his passes didn’t find their target. Getty -
Daniel James - 6: Key in the move which led to the opening goal and busy, but more effective when wide. His confidence is up and deserved his start, but it was also sensible to bring him off first as United started the second half under pressure. Reuters -
Bruno Fernandes - 7: Super flick that set-up Rashford’s opener. Made another assist a few minutes later, losing the ball which led to Leicester’s equaliser. Manager admits that he is left tearing his hair out at times watching the Portuguese. Should have scored a header. Booked. Played high as game went on and ran onto Cavani’s ball to stay composed and score second. Scored or assisted 31 goal in 28 games since arriving in January. EPA -
Marcus Rashford - 7: Missed a sitter of a header right at the start but then put his side ahead after 23 with a well taken side-footed finish. His 50th Premier League goal. Powerful shot well saved by Schmeichel in second. A threat throughout, but was injured at the end. PA -
Anthony Martial - 5: Super run to beat several players in first half but needed to be more involved. Put ball in net but was just offside. Getty -
SUBS: Paul Pogba - (On for James 54') 6: Lost possession too easily. Reuters -
Axel Tuanzebe - (On for Lindelof 66') 7: A big improvement on the Swede. Scored an own goal, but could do little about it. Reuters -
Edinson Cavani - (On for Martial 75') 7: Lifted the team and set up Fernandes for United’s crucial second. Getty
