Changing times at United

Chelsea’s transformation from the defiant, defensive long-ball side of last year to the fluid inter-passing outfit currently on top of the Premier League has already won manager Roberto Di Matteo plenty of headlines; but is there an equally big revolution quietly taking shape at Manchester United?

Unlike Chelsea, United have rarely been labelled boring, aggressive or negative. The tradition of exciting, attacking football at Old Trafford means it would be managerial suicide to even contemplate such tactics.

But as United prepare to face Braga in the Champions League tonight Alex Ferguson is nevertheless considering major long-term changes to the tried and tested pattern that has made him so successful for more than 20 years.