We sort of play like this but better because we have the better midfielders in season 16/17, we just lacked clinical finishers at that time like Kane and Son unfortunately when Zlatan is having his rare months of off day finishing.
Less ego and less pressure seems to do the trick. Also I suppose the players buy Mourinho's ideas and willing to follow his instructions just to break their curse of not winning anything at all. Their last chances to win something and be proud of being there.
I mean we do know there are massive ego players in United who will sulk, moan, complain and cry to their agents whenever they get dropped or played in "out of position" instead of winning back their spot by playing, professionalism, performing, etc. Also "popular" players will be defended and manager to be criticized if the players are not in the starting 11. We know who they are. The ego is there and the pressure is also massive at United. Fans and media will complain all the time. This is a problem starting the second season, of course the manager himself lost to the pressure and generally lacking some emotional support from families eg. him living at hotels, will take a toll on him, and so we see him cracked under pressure. I also think there's something wrong with the current culture at United. Not really surprising seeing the contract situations at United where top 4 is the aim as stipulated in contracts, contract extension is easy to "preserve value", generosity of years given, etc. "The United Way" is just spoken words nowadays, lip service to the public.
