Neither Paul Pogba nor Anthony Martial are men for the extremities of tough love, neither did they enjoy playing for Jose Mourinho.
With Pogba, the statistics detail that neatly. More goals (eight) and more assists (five) under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in seven weeks than the previous four months.
Martial, however, has by no means smashed through a ceiling where numbers are concerned. He already had eight for the season by the time Mourinho was sacked.
Rather, it is the demeanour that has altered. That was evident at Old Trafford on Monday afternoon, the winger previewing Manchester United’s Champions League date with Paris Saint-Germain.
Martial turned translator for his interim manager when questions in French flew in his direction and looked engaged during the brief press conference. He looked comfortable – certainly more comfortable than we have seen before.
Both of these France internationals feel the benefits of geniality. Solskjaer has spoken to both privately, with the message the same as it is publicly. There is no great science to any of this from a man-management perspective.
Solskjaer – like all other United fans – believes Pogba should dominate games and has told him as such. Solskjaer – like all other United fans – believes Martial has the potential to score plenty more goals consistently from the left side.
Pogba has since dominated games. The challenge for Martial now is to go on a little run. He has two in his last three appearances, including that stunner which evoked memories of Cristiano Ronaldo away at Fulham.
Martial has had two personal issues this season. The first saw him leave United’s pre-season tour of America to witness the birth of his son and then not return – against the wishes of Mourinho. He started just one Premier League game before the end of September.
The second came at Christmas, when he missed a flight home from Paris and was late for the squad’s meeting before the Boxing Day clash against Huddersfield.
Martial was dropped by Solskjaer, who publicly maintained that was because of illness, before a line was drawn and he was reinstated for the next game. Swift action, move on.