COMMENT: Of course, Jose Mourinho's no coach. He's just a chequebook manager. Simply exploiting the work of others. We all know that. But... hang on... how do you explain the Big Fella?
Marouane Fellaini. Two league games. Two five-star performances. In a role we all said he couldn't handle. He fancied himself there, sure. But he didn't have the motor, we argued. He was just too slow. Too clumsy to be effective in the middle of park.
But Mourinho could see it. He'd never worked with the Belgian. The only time he'd seen him up close was in a United shirt. Head down. Confidence shot. Barracked by his own fans. Yet, Mourinho could see it.
In the aftermath of victory over Southampton, he revealed all.
A call had been put in to Fellaini the day after his signing ceremony. It wasn't to say, 'you're transfer-listed'. It would've been easier for Mourinho to do so. Play a little bit of politics. Get the boo-boys onside. Throw the wolves a bit of meat. But Mourinho did the exact opposite.
"With me, you don't leave, for SURE," the United manager told Fellaini. No wonder he spent his summer break strutting around Ibiza. The best in the world. His new boss. Had told him he was needed. For any footballer, especially one who'd endured three seasons like Fellaini had, there could be no better message.
And after the pep-talk (or the man-management) came the coaching.
If you need a lesson on why Mourinho is the best, just consider the early season form of Fellaini.
Remember, this isn't supposed to be "a Manchester United player", as Michael Owen has claimed. Paul Parker, a double winner with United, went further, stating the locker room would be happy to see the back him.
"...even the Manchester United players would think he's the one they want to be shifted on. He doesn't fit into their team," said the World Cup veteran.
And then there's Jamie Carragher...
"He is a menace in the worst possible sense," wrote the Liverpool great last season, "I don't use that term lightly but he is not a Manchester United player in any shape or form.
"My personal hope is that we would never see him playing in the Premier League again."
But he is Jamie - and he's thriving under the new manager. A manager who has been able to get the best from Fellaini, even in a position that no-one, bar himself, believed he could handle.
Under both David Moyes and Louis van Gaal, Fellaini played his best football in an advanced position. He'd made it clear he saw himself as a midfielder. But those in charge weren't convinced. Until, that is, Mourinho took control.
Where was Mourinho's Claude Makelele? His Nemanja Matic? We wondered. But he'd already identified his ball-winner. His destroyer. It was Fellaini. Mourinho, from day one, was convinced. The lack of mobility. The one-pace movement. It was just the stuff of critics. Fellaini could not only do the job. He could thrive in the role. As he is doing so today.
And when it came to United's No27, Mourinho even left pundits red-faced with his selection for the Saints game.
It had to be the Belgian to make way, they all argued. Paul Pogba, all €100 million of him, was brought to United to take Fellaini's place. They couldn't play together. They wouldn't play together. But Mourinho hadn't read the script.
And it worked. Pogba was outstanding on the night. As was Fellaini. And it can be argued, without Fellaini alongside him, putting out spotfires wherever they cropped up, Pogba wouldn't have been as influential as he was. Indeed, it was Big Fella who started the move that led to Zlatan Ibrahimovic's opener.
Of course, in hindsight the selection is obvious. If Mourinho is to stick with his current back four, he's going to need greater defensive security in midfield. And he'll get that with Fellaini, in-form, sitting behind Pogba. But only the manager could see this beforehand. We all thought it would be Pogba and Michael Carrick. Or Pogba and Ander Herrera. But with 20:20, after the Saints result, the current combination looks a masterstroke.
Man-management. Coaching. Development. Three of Mourinho's core strengths - and all can be seen in the sudden reinstatement of Marouane Fellaini as a genuine Manchester United player.
INJURY TIME
This wasn't kidology from Zlatan.
"Pass the ball, you have to pass. Next time you pass!" Zlatan Ibrahimovic joked with Paul Pogba after the Frenchman had denied him a hat-trick against Southampton.
The Swede said it with a smile, playing up to the cameras. But the message was clear: You maybe the €100m man Paul, but I'm the No1 here. Next time you will pass.
Ibrahimovic has already brought goals to Manchester United. Two classic headers from a centre-forward in three games. When was the last time a United fan saw that? Sammy McIlroy reckons not since Joe Jordan.
But Ibra is more than just goals. He's brought leadership to the squad. An authority that no other player, not even Wayne Rooney or Michael Carrick, could muster at Carrington.
Pogba will listen. They all will listen. Ibrahimovic, with his three goals, already looks the stuff of genius by Jose Mourinho. But it's off the pitch, whether with local lad Marcus Rashford, or the big money buys Pogba and Anthony Martial, where the Swede's influence will have its greatest effect.
