Manchester United fans have been enjoying their week more than most, having seen their side record their most impressive and important win of the season last Sunday in beating Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield.
Louis van Gaal’s side are now the hot favourites for a top four finish, having moved five points clear of their bitter rivals who remain in fifth place.
Little less than two years ago however, Manchester United fans would not have been happy had they been told the best their team would manage in a season was a fourth placed finish.
This is still the club that has won the most top flight titles in England, and remains firmly the most succesful club of the Premier League era.
Louis van Gaal has a challenge on his hands to reach those heights again, but the Dutchman is not one to shy away from a challenge – and a top four finish would be a good place to start.
But how many of the current side would get into the best Manchester United side of the 21st century? Not many…
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Click on Old Trafford to reveal the best Manchester United XI of the 21st century
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Edwin van der Sar
It remains a mystery as to why it took United as long as it did to bring Edwin van der Sar to Old Trafford. Having lost Peter Schmeichel in 1999, Sir Alex Ferguson was delighted to finally land a top class replacement in the form of the Dutchman in 2005.
Van der Sar went on to win four Premier League titles at Old Trafford, as well as saving the crucial penalty from Nicolas Anelka in the 2008 Champions League final.
Gary Neville
Neville spent almost 20 years at Old Trafford, and won a total of 13 league titles. Whilst arguably his finest season came during the treble campaign of 1998-99, Neville captained United to Premier League dominance for several years up until his retirement in 2011.
He left with a total of 400 Premier League appearances to his name, and is tipped to be the future manager of England.
Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand became the most expensive defender in world football when he completed a £30million transfer to Manchester United in 2002.
And perhaps the biggest compliment you can pay him, is that he justified that price tag during his time at Old Trafford.
Ferdinand won six Premier League titles in 12 years as a Manchester United player, as well as the FA Cup, Champions League, League Cup (twice) and Club World Championship, and will be remembered perhaps as the most naturally gifted centre back the country has produced in a generation.
Nemanja Vidic
The Serb will be remembered as one of the biggest bargains in Manchester United’s history, having signed for just £6million in 2006.
Vidic would go on to become Manchester United captain, and enjoy no shortage of success, winning five Premier League titles and a Champions League.
The only regret perhaps is the way in which he departed, with injuries blighting his last few seasons in England before his switch to Inter Milan on a free transfer last summer.
Patrice Evra
The Frenchman endured a horror debut for United in a Manchester derby at Maine Road after signing in January 2006, but recovered to become one of the best left backs the Premier League has seen.
Evra was one of the natural leaders in the United squad, and captained the side to success on many occasions.
He was another to leave the club on a free transfer in the summer, but left with an impressive medal collection – winning the Premier League on five occasions and the Champions League once during his time at the club.
Cristiano Ronaldo
There is not much to be written about Cristiano Ronaldo that hasn’t already been written already. The man who holds the current title of the best player in world football made his name at Old Trafford, after signing from Sporting Lisbon for a bargain £12million in the summer of 2003.
In six years at Old Trafford, Ronaldo won three Premier League titles – having scored more than 30 goals a season in the last two triumphs – as well as the Champions League as 2008.
All of this before departing to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009, for what was a world record £80million at the time.
Roy Keane
With his habit of making controversial remarks, it is easy to sometimes forget just what a top class player Roy Keane was.
During the early part of the 21st century, Keane was considered the best midfielder in the country, and was the driving force behind much of United’s success under Sir Alex Ferguson.
His United career came to an end in 2005, but no player has come close to replacing him in the heart of the midfield since his departure – and subsequent fall out with Fergie.
Paul Scholes
It is only after Scholes retired from football little less than two years ago that people are really starting to appreciate just how special he was.
His quiet manner on and off the field meant he was often overlooked, but United will struggle to find a central midfielder with the quality of Scholes ever again.
His retirement from international football in 2004 meant United fans got to see the best of him week in week out, and he eventually hung up his boots with a collection of 11 Premier League winners medals, three FA Cup winners medals, and two Champions League winners medals.
Ryan Giggs
It is remarkable to think Ryan Giggs only hung up his boots last summer.
The Welshman has the undisputed title of the Peter Pan of football, having played at the very highest level until the age of 40.
Now Louis van Gaal’s number two, and the favourite to be the long term successor to Sir Alex Ferguson, Giggs is the most decorated player in the history of the English game.
Enough said really.
Ruud van Nistelrooy
The Dutchman signed for United in the summer of 2001, a year later than intially planned.
He left with a goal record of 95 in 150 Premier League appearances, and having won every trophy there was to win on the domestic stage in five years.
Van Nistelrooy established himself as one of the most feared strikers in world football during his time at Old Trafford, and nobody played a bigger part than him in the thrilling title winning season of 2002-03, as United pipped their great rivals Arsenal in dramatic fashion.
Wayne Rooney
The only member of the current Manchester United side to make this squad – unsurprising when you consider he is their captain and talisman.
Rooney has been with United for more than ten years now, having signed from Everton in the summer of 2004.
Now one of the most experienced Premier League players of any side, Rooney has five Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a Champions League to his name – and still just 28, you would bet there is more to come still from the United and England skipper.
