Jose Mourinho hit the headlines this week after reportedly hinting at a move to Paris Saint-Germain during an interview on French TV channel TF1, praising their current team as "something special. Magic, quality, youth, it's fantastic.” With tabloids across the UK reporting that he had become disinterested with life in Manchester, coupled with the widespread criticism in the way his team approached the Liverpool match, there was an air of negativity around the current United squad – however, there should be a sense of optimism for fans this season under Mourinho, and here is why.

Unbeaten start to the season

After 8 games in the Premier League, Manchester United currently sit in 2nd, 2 points off the top of the Premier League and unbeaten (drawing twice), they are also top of their Group in the Champions League, coming off a 1-0 victory away at Benfica. They are 6 points and 5 places better off than this time last year, increasing their goal difference by 14 goals along the way. From last years top 6, they have only come across Liverpool at Anfield and were widely-criticised for their performance, but Jose is a master when it comes to managing an entire season and an away point could be vital come to the end of the season. It also keeps their unbeaten start and momentum going.

Old Trafford becoming a fortress again

Under Sir Alex Ferguson teams used to fear coming to Old Trafford and games were often won in the tunnel prior to the match. Since he retired, the fear has evaporated and this is something Mourinho would have made a priority when he first joined last year. His success at Chelsea was built on winning at home, he even went 151 home games unbeaten (over 4 clubs).

Last season, Mourinho only lost once at Old Trafford in the league but drew 10 times which ultimately put a dent in any chance they had of mounting a Title challenge. This season they are unbeaten at home after 4 Premier League games, turning games they drew last season into wins, mainly down to the chances they are converting this season.

They have already put 4 goals past Crystal Palace, Everton and West Ham with their summer signing Romelu Lukaku scoring in all of those games. Teams this season will not be relishing a trip to Old Trafford and that will put them in good stead for the rest of the season.

Romelu Lukaku

Last season Manchester United heavily relied on Zlatan Ibrahimovic for their goals and he did not disappoint. With 17 goals in the league and 28 overall, Zlatan silenced a lot of pundits and fans who doubted he would be able to adjust to the Premier League at the age of 35. However, their second top goal scorer in the league was Juan Mata with 6. Compare the champions, Chelsea, Diego Costa bagged 20 goals in the league and Hazard close behind with 16.

To challenge for the Title, you cannot rely on one man to get you the goals. This season Romelu Lukaku has had an incredible start to life at Old Trafford, scoring 7 goals in his first 8 games but more importantly, players around the pitch are chipping in with goals, whether it be Martial, Fellaini or Rashford and with Ibrahimovic back soon, United look to have a more potent strike force this year.

United was also guilty of missing chances last year – they had the 4th worst shots to goals ratio, they were only better than Middlesbrough, Southampton, and Sunderland. By bringing in Romelu Lukaku, not only are United scoring more goals, they are taking a much higher percentage of their chances throughout the 90 minutes.

Mourinho

He may have been criticised for the way he set his team up to play Liverpool at Anfield on the weekend, but do not let that fool you – Mourinho and his team will challenge for the league title this season. They may not be playing the free-flowing football that Man City have been this season under Pep Guardiola, but Mourinho’s teams hardly ever have, but they have always won league titles.

Jose knows how to manage a squad over the course of 38 games and he knows how to get the best out of a squad that may not be as technically gifted as their main rivals – look at when he beat Pep’s Barcelona to the league title, against a Barcelona team labelled the best ever by many. Man City may have beaten Liverpool 5-0 earlier, but Mourinho won't be swayed by that result to change his methods and he knows that a 0-0 result at Anfield could prove decisive.

Mourinho’s teams have always been tall and powerful with a strong spine and this United side that he has built has those exact qualities with Matic and Lukaku joining this summer adding to that steely spine. With flair players in Martial, Rashford, and Mkhitaryan, United can play pretty football but when the winter months come and they need to grind out a tough result, Mourinho is always the manager that is able to get his side to consistently win or get valuable points from those tight games. He may have been labelled a spent force or ridiculed by the media for his style of football or his media outbursts but Jose Mourinho is creating a Jose Mourinho styled side and they have always won league titles.