Tottenham vs Manchester United on Super Sunday is live from 4.15pm on Sky Sports
Sunday 13 January 2019 17:04, UK
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has allowed Manchester United's players the license to express themselves in the same way Sir Alex Ferguson used to, says Tim Howard.
United caretaker-manager Solskjaer has emulated Sir Matt Busby's five-match winning start to life at the Old Trafford helm in all competitions, although he faces the stiffest test of his Premier League managerial credentials against Tottenham, live on Sky Sports.
Former USA international Howard and fan-favourite Solskjaer were team-mates for four years before both of their United playing careers ended in 2007.
And Howard says the feel-good factor is back at Old Trafford under Solskjaer, with United once again playing the kind of football that has made them the most successful side in Premier League history.
"He is one of the good guys, he understands the soul of the club. He is a piece of that fabric and so when he speaks to those players he is going to listen. There is nothing he hasn't done at Manchester United.
"I've sat back and enjoyed watching him manage the team. He does what Sir Alex Ferguson did - when I was there playing with him - and he would pick the best players and say go, play forward, play fast and go right up against them.
"That's what Ole talks about taking the shackles off, enjoying your football and playing the Manchester United way and we all know what playing the Manchester United way is. That's what he has done he has given them freedom.
"Over the last few seasons they have kind of had those shackles on, they've not really played that free-flowing football and clearly that's back."