“I’m amazed” – Manchester United’s Mark Skinner toasts his seventh successive win

Successful transfer windows in January and summer helped build squad depth, while Skinner attributes their improvement to ‘maturity’ with experience.

Criticism of the performance continues to come its way from United supporters, but Skinner insists it is all about the results at the moment.

“I know my team has this ideology about having to play a really attractive style of football and we want to build possession,” he said earlier this week.

“But actually, it’s the way we mix our game that makes things unpredictable. When I look at the way we’re playing now, the goals [against Atletico] They were merciless.

“I would rather be that team – that is ruthless in the two squares – than the team that has been playing beautiful football up until that moment, conceding goals and not scoring anything.

“It’s that maturity and recognition that this is our first challenge in a deep competition. We just have to finish some of these games.”

There remains a learning curve for United on how to navigate multiple competitions – but the signs have been very positive.

They have a Women’s League Cup final against Chelsea to play next month, after an FA Cup fifth round tie against the same opponents.

They have one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals after taking a 3-0 lead in the first leg of their play-off clash with Atletico Madrid, which they should wrap up on Thursday.

If they emerge from that, and remain in the top three in the Premier League – securing European football for next year – United will have a lot to celebrate in May.

“That’s the goal,” Skinner said. “We will face strong opponents, and we have another match on Thursday. It’s not over yet and we have to work hard.”

“When you get here, what’s the point of walking halfway through hell and going back? You have to walk all the way through it, feel the suffering and pain of it, and try to get through it to see what’s on the other side.

“That’s what this team is going to do.”