Christian Eriksen (left) celebrates with Antony after the Brazilian opened the scoring in Manchester United's 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest on Sunday

It turned into a very good weekend for Manchester United.

Once noticeable feature during Erik ten Hag’s first season is that his team respond well to adversity in a way they simply didn’t under his predecessors.

After their nightmare collapse against Sevilla on Thursday night – two shambolic late goals conceded, two troubling injuries to key defenders – they roared back to form with a 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

It was one of their most complete performances of the season and, coupled with defeats for both Newcastle and Tottenham the day before, strengthened their grip on a top four place.

But that came as no surprise given the midfield trio that took the field at the City Ground was Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes.

Christian Eriksen (left) celebrates with Antony after the Brazilian opened the scoring in Manchester United's 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest on Sunday

Christian Eriksen (left) celebrates with Antony after the Brazilian opened the scoring in Manchester United’s 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest on Sunday

Casemiro returned to Premier League action after his four-game suspension and impressed

Casemiro returned to Premier League action after his four-game suspension and impressed

Bruno Fernandes was as influential as ever with United able to field their strongest midfield

Bruno Fernandes was as influential as ever with United able to field their strongest midfield

In the 17 matches the trio have started together, United have won 15, drawn two and lost none. They are proving to be an unbeatable nucleus to Ten Hag’s team.

This one was more by accident than design, however, with Marcel Sabitzer initially listed on the teamsheet only to withdraw with an injury suffered in the warm-up.

Ten Hag admitted afterwards he just didn’t want to take a risk with the Austrian’s fitness given the important games ahead and a lengthening injury list that features Marcus Rashford, Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Scott McTominay and Alejandro Garnacho.

So in came Eriksen, himself only just fit again following his ankle injury, and things just clicked immediately.

Ten Hag is very big on automatic movements, of players knowing instinctively where team-mates will be on the pitch and therefore being empowered to make the right decision quicker.

This can only be built up over time, which explains his reluctance to rotate his strongest team too often, and the best example is in the United midfield.

Either side of Eriksen’s injury and Casemiro’s suspensions, the first-choice midfield three have excelled. They have quickly learned one another’s game and if they start, United generally win.

Opta revealed that United remain unbeaten in 17 games when the three midfielders start

Opta revealed that United remain unbeaten in 17 games when the three midfielders start

With top four rivals Newcastle and Tottenham both losing on Saturday, it turned into a very good weekend for Erik ten Hag's side, whose win lifted them into third place

With top four rivals Newcastle and Tottenham both losing on Saturday, it turned into a very good weekend for Erik ten Hag’s side, whose win lifted them into third place

So if Ten Hag can somehow keep all three fit and free of fatigue, a successful climax to United’s season is definitely possible.

After beating Forest to move up to third in the Premier League, United now revert to knockout mode.

United manager Erik ten Hag gives the thumbs up to his team's performance

United manager Erik ten Hag gives the thumbs up to his team’s performance 

On Thursday, they head to Spain for the fourth time this season (fifth time if you include their mid-season training camp) to play Sevilla with their Europa League quarter-final tie locked at 2-2.

Those two late own goals at Old Trafford clearly bolstered Sevilla, who won 2-0 in a relegation six-pointer at Valencia on Sunday night.

With an eight-point cushion now between themselves and the bottom three, Sevilla can focus a little more on chasing yet more Europa League glory rather than sacrificing it to preserve their LaLiga status.

But United, with their superior quality, should still have enough to progress to a semi-final against either Juventus or Sporting Lisbon.

Then it’s a second Wembley visit of the season for the FA Cup semi-final with Brighton on Sunday, followed by pivotal league fixtures against Tottenham and Aston Villa.

In all, United could yet have another 14 matches before their season’s work is done but they could end up with three trophies and Champions League football. It would represent an outstanding first campaign for Ten Hag.

Of everyone, you’d expect Fernandes to be at greatest risk of burn-out. He has played in 49 games already, starting all but one of them.

Fernandes shows no signs of flagging despite a demanding season in which he plays essentially ever game for United and often captains the side

Fernandes shows no signs of flagging despite a demanding season in which he plays essentially ever game for United and often captains the side

United recorded a third successive Premier League win to bolster their top four chances

United recorded a third successive Premier League win to bolster their top four chances

The Portuguese has also had the additional responsibility of captaincy in most of those matches when Harry Maguire wasn’t playing.

Man United fixtures 

Premier League unless stated

Thursday Sevilla (A)

Europa League quarter-final, second leg

Sunday Brighton (Wembley)

FA Cup semi-final

April 27 Tottenham Hotspur (A)

April 30 Aston Villa (H)

May 4 Brighton (A)

May 7 West Ham (A)

When United were demolished 7-0 by Liverpool in early March, Fernandes was panned for his negative body language and rightly so.

But he has responded well, embracing the deeper ‘quarterback’ role Ten Hag asked of him while maintaining high standards in his traditional No 10 position.

At Forest on Sunday, Fernandes played 44 successful passes in the opposition half, made 10 progressive passes and was involved in 10 moves that led to shots.

Indeed, he had five attempts himself and ended up joking with Forest keeper Keylor Navas that he was only saving his shots, as Antony and Diogo Dalot scored the decisive goals.

Even Roy Keane sounded impressed, saying: ‘He’ll be disappointed he didn’t score but the quality of his balls into the box – if you’re a striker, it’s a dream. You make some runs and he picks you out.

‘I know we criticise him when United don’t win football matches but he’s two steps ahead in terms of his quality and the picture he has on the football pitch. I think the guy’s pure quality.’

After 10 goals and 13 assists so far this season, it’s obvious Fernandes will be integral to whether United have a successful final few weeks regardless of whether he’s running on fumes.

Sunday’s performance suggests Fernandes still has enough stamina to get through it and linking up with Eriksen and Casemiro will aid him.

Christian Eriksen applauds the travelling United fans at the City Ground after Sunday's win

Christian Eriksen applauds the travelling United fans at the City Ground after Sunday’s win

Marcel Sabitzer suffered an injury in the warm-up and was taken out of the starting line-up

Marcel Sabitzer suffered an injury in the warm-up and was taken out of the starting line-up

The Dane’s return to fitness after missing 17 United games and two for Denmark represents a huge boost.

When Eriksen was on the receiving end of Andy Carroll’s industrial-strength tackle in the FA Cup tie with Reading on January 28, there were fears his season was over.

That was revised to late April but actually Eriksen returned off the bench in the 2-0 win over Everton on April 8.

Casemiro reflects on another strong performance in United's midfield

Casemiro reflects on another strong performance in United’s midfield

Thrust into action following Sabitzer’s injury on Sunday, Eriksen looked like his old self alongside Casemiro. He made 39 successful passes in Forest’s half, made 17 progressive passes and moved the ball with a completion rate of 85.3 per cent.

In a sign of his willingness to dig in defensively, Eriksen also made four blocks, as many as Aaron Wan-Bissaka and three more than each of Maguire and Victor Lindelof.

If Sabitzer faces a spell on the sidelines – which would be unfortunate given his clinical finishing against Sevilla put many of United’s actual attackers to shame – Eriksen is clearly ready to step in and have an influence.

Casemiro, meanwhile, continues to just be Casemiro. His recoveries of possession and ball retention enable United a large element of control in matches such as this.

While United could certainly do with a smart ball carrier such as Frenkie de Jong alongside him, the Brazilian’s presence just radiates confidence to everyone else.

This was his first league match back following the four-game ban for the red card against Southampton that left him in tears and it was like he’d never been away.

So amid mounting injury problems and with the fixture list growing ever more intense, if United and Ten Hag can keep their unbeatable midfield together further success will surely follow.

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