Casemiro moment in Carabao Cup final shows what has changed in Manchester United squad

On the stroke of half-time at Wembley, Casemiro forced Joelinton out of play to earn Manchester United a goal kick and celebrated like he'd just added to his five Champions League medals.

The 30-year-old waved his arms up and down at the United throng beyond David de Gea's goal and then turned back towards the pitch. He was greeted by Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez. The quartet shared high fives, chest bumps and a couple of hugs. Only the League Cup final, you say?

It's worth remembering that Varane also has four Champions League medals and both of the centre-backs in that defensive celebration are World Cup winners. Yet earning a goal-kick at 2-0 up in the Carabao Cup final stirred the intensity of celebrations.

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It's these kinds of moments that give you the feeling something special is stirring under Erik ten Hag. United fans have experienced too many false dawns in the last decade to get too carried away, but it does feel different this time.

This is a team of winners that has been assembled, but they look invested in the narrative of returning United to the very top, with Ten Hag writing the script. Series one has been an absolute blockbuster.

From the wreckage of that 4-0 defeat at Brentford in mid-August, United will head into March with the possibility of winning four trophies very much alive. Number one is in the bag after this win against Newcastle and Wembley rocked to the sound of a fanbase that has reconnected with their team.

At Brighton in May and at Brentford in August plenty of these players were told they weren't fit to wear the shirt. How that has changed. Ten Hag has restored confidence and unity but the