For all the criticisms of Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United, they are showing all the fight and resolve of Fergie’s greats

The concern is that while resolve is ingrained in this team, performances seem circumstantial

Mourinho's man-management may be questionable, but his fight is not (Getty)

It was just another contrast that explained why Manchester United are where they are, ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in the table as much as on their way back to Wembley.

After Ander Herrera had put Jose Mourinho’s side ahead, Mauricio Pochettino had attempted to re-organise his side to get back into the game, but it wasn’t quite getting through to his players. They were just getting at each other. There was a lot of pointing and gesticulating; a lot of confusion.

There was none of that with United - nor was there any worry or panic. There was just focus and concentration. They’d been in this situation before, and knew precisely what to do.

They were also so precise in what they were doing. Through a masterful tactical display, United just shut Spurs out. It was hugely impressive in how they just imposed themselves on a previously rampant Tottenham, and totally stifled and stunted them. Pochettino had no answer to it, and his players no solution.

Unlike the opening 25 minutes, when they were rampantly creating huge chances for fun, there wasn’t even the hint of an equaliser.

It was quite a contrast, too, but not the key contrast. That was in United themselves.

They went from a side that had been really struggling, and so stripped apart, to one that was so composed and confident. They became a side that looked ready for anything.

They seem particularly ready for comebacks, since that was just the latest in a long line of them. That deserves real credit, because it shows real resilience.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t still questions about the Mourinho regime, particularly as to why it is they get into that situation, why they are often so flat, and why it takes those situations to get them to play the kind of football that befits the club.

There is often a lot of harking back to Sir Alex Ferguson when it comes to such criticisms, but then there should also be praise when talking to such comebacks, because they hark back to Mourinho’s great predecessor too.

Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring United’s equaliser (AFP/Getty Images)

Such comebacks are quintessentially United, but they also point to something quintessential with this team.

Mourinho may still have a lot to do with them, but he has undeniably instilled them with the resolve that has marked out his best sides. This United just don’t cave. They don’t fold. They don’t know when they’re beaten. There is now a lot of evidence for this.

And even if the West Brom match was evidence that some of the comeback against Manchester City was circumstantial, what is not circumstantial is the resolve. It is ingrained in this team, and does reflect a connection with the players.

Some of those players may not be enamoured by Mourinho’s man-management, or some of his decisions, but that is not a prerequisite for that connection.

Going behind does seem to be a prerequisite for United to really play well, but they are so good at dealing with it. And this was personified by Paul Pogba on Saturday.

He had been one of the worst players on the pitch in that opening spell, ambling around as Spurs showed so much purpose, but was then one of the best and most responsible for United’s recovery.

The way he just brushed Mousa Dembele off the ball before brilliantly clipping in a cross was arguably the moment that jarred United back into life. Pogba displayed a new responsibility.

United, meanwhile, displayed a hard-wired resolve.