Manchester United coach Phil Neville has said the recent victory over Arsenal shows the players are beginning to trust David Moyes’ game plan.
Scotsman Moyes succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson, who won several trophies in 27 years at the helm of the Old Trafford club, in July and has been greeted with a difficult start in his first campaign in charge of the Premier League champions.
United recorded its worst start to a league season in 24 years in the ongoing campaign after collecting only 11 points from their opening eight games.
“Defeat by West Brom was a real wake-up call for the players and managers,” Neville told the BBC’s Football Focus.
“The players are beginning to trust the manager and his philosophy and I think you saw that against Arsenal.
“It was always going to take a bit of time after one man had controlled the club for so long, there was always going to be a transition period.”
The 36-year-old former United right-back, joined United’s coaching staff in the summer having played under Moyes at his former club Everton.
Neville also believes Wayne Rooney, who was repeatedly a subject of transfer speculation over the summer, has stood out for the ‘Red Devils’.
“His level of performance not just in games but in training has been first class,” Neville said. “And at the start of the season when we weren’t in the best form, he was a shinning light.
“Now you are seeing everybody else to come into form, and with the partnership between him and Robin van Persie, if they continue at that rate in terms of goals, then we will be right up there.
“If you look at facts, when they play together, Manchester United win football games.”
The ex-Three Lions defender added that the search for suitable talents continues in January when the transfer window reopens.
“We need to keep reinvesting in the squad because if you stand still in this league you get left behind, as Manchester City found out last season when they didn’t strengthen as much and they ended up losing the league (title),” Neville added.