Manchester United's hierarchy believe the football being served up by manager Jose Mourinho is "much better than last year," a source close to the club has told ESPN FC.
Mourinho has been working on implementing a style that is different to the one seen under his predecessor Louis van Gaal. That is one of the requirements of Mourinho's job -- not just results -- and he is aiming to lay down long-term foundations with that style.
United suffered another disappointing league draw in their most recent match -- 1-1 at Everton on Sunday -- leading to Mourinho complaining about people focusing on results rather than performances.
The Portuguese stressed that he was happy with the way his team were playing and that they are "in a position in the table [sixth] that has no relation to our football."
Last Wednesday, he had said that his team had played "beautiful, attacking football" in the second half of their 4-1 home defeat of West Ham United in the EFL Cup quarterfinal.