Erik ten Hag has hailed 'great players' Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay after they turned around their Manchester United careers.
Both were transfer-listed back in the summer but stayed to fight for their places at Old Trafford.
England defender Maguire has been in very good form in recent weeks, while Scotland midfielder McTominay is the club's leading goalscorer this season with six.
McTominay netted twice as Ten Hag's side beat Chelsea 2-1 on Wednesday night and they'll hope to kick on at home to Bournemouth on Saturday.
Maguire won the Premier League Player of the Month award for November on Friday, with Ten Hag scooping the Manager prize.
Asked about the pair's upturn in fortunes, the United boss said: 'I think we have a squad and in the squad there is internal competition. If you want a successful season, you need more than 11 players.
'Finally, in every season, it will turn and in every season it's what is the best team.
'They are here, they are great players, and played themselves into the team.
'That's what you expect from every player, there has to be dedication to aim for this.'
'I think we have a squad and in the squad there is internal competition. If you want a successful season you need more than 11 players.
'The best team will turn in an average season.'
On McTominay's goal-scoring form, the United boss added: 'Actually from the first moment I saw, he has a very good smell to make it in the box and he is a very good finisher.
'That is not a surprise when we bring it and the way we want to play and get the balls to them he will finish.'
United will aim to build on their win and much-improved performance against Chelsea when they host Bournemouth on Saturday.
Colito
13
My friend have been asking me what is ERIC TEN HAG Pattern of Football. You guys remember how ARSENAL was leading the table with 11 points last season, Boom SALIBA sustain injury ARSENAL start dropping points. That's how they lose the PREMIER LEAGUE. You remember when ROBERTSON & ARNOLD sustain injury..... you all saw how WEAK LIVERPOOL TEAM is....This two are the engine room of KLOPP Pattern. KELVIN DE BRUNYE sustain injury but MANCHESTER CITY didn't miss him. RODRI was RED CARDED and MANCHESTER CITY went ahead to lose 2 Matches in a row. RODRI is the engine room of MANCHESTER CITY. MANCHESTER UNITED was on fire last season because of MARTINEZ. If you can recall what happen against SEVILLA.... MANCHESTER UNITED were leading 2-0....boom MARTINEZ sustain injury and SEVILLA Scored 2 GOALS in the space of 10 minutes. ERIC TEN HAG pattern is playing from the back that is main reason he sign ONANA. ERIC TEN HAG is playing Player out of their position just because of injury crisis. MANCHESTER UNITED don't have that Defender who can hold ball very well....Is it MAGUIRE who is under pressure or DALOT who is always shaking ? ⛳ Like l said earlier....l will stop believing in ERIC TEN HAG if this players come back from injury and he failed to get positive results. Meanwhile, in anything you are doing put CHELSEA in your prayer