So often has Jose Mourinho’s track record in his second season at clubs been quoted it is beginning to sound a little cliche, but there is reason behind his history of winning a domestic title the campaign after being appointed.

So particular are his methods, it requires time for players already in place to fully engage. Then there is the transfer market, where Mourinho always demands specific qualities that usually take two or three windows to acquire.

Once all that is sorted, the creative tension sparked by Mourinho’s exacting standards tends to produce a driven squad that leads from gun to finish post.

Manchester United are top of the Premier League after two games following back-to-back wins

United manager Jose Mourinho has a habit of winning the title in his second season at clubs

Mourinho has moulded United into his image - tough to beat, but capable of quality football

How long that success sustains is open to scrutiny but for Manchester United supporters, it is difficult to guard against expectations that this season at least is following a familiar pattern.

Two comprehensive 4-0 victories in succession have United top and, for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson looked on from the dugout, carrying a genuine impression of potential champions.

Here, Sportsmail examines how Mourinho has shaped a side that appears the real deal...

United have won both games 4-0, with £75m striker Romelu Lukaku immediately in the goals

Goals, goals, goals

First the caveats: in West Ham and Swansea, the opposition has been meagre and clearly not yet settled after complex summers. That should not discount the deeper truth, that Mourinho’s United have a multifaceted attack capable of scoring from a variety of means and identities.

Of the eight so far, Romelu Lukaku has three, Paul Pogba two, Anthony Martial two and Eric Bailly one, a good spread from front to back.

Juan Mata, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and Marcus Rashford have all made goalkeepers work too, with United’s shots count totalling 28 – a figure justifying the scorelines. Last season United suffered from a failure to finish, often besieging teams at Old Trafford but coming away with draws. Their current conversion rate marries more with what we might expect.

Part of that lies in the manner of United’s chance creation. Already this season goals have come via lightening counter attacks – a rarity in Mourinho’s debut campaign – set pieces, and gradual build-up play.

Should Zlatan Ibrahimovic return from his injury by January as expected then United’s offensive options are even greater enhanced.

Mourinho has signed many players over six foot tall, including Lukaku and £89m Paul Pogba

High hopes

Again, much has been said about Mourinho’s magnetism towards tall players but the evidence is bearing out. Admittedly at the Liberty Stadium, Bailly benefitted from slack defending to Pogba’s header but at that corner Swansea had to keep an eye on those two plus Lukaku and Nemanja Matic, all well over six foot. Against West Ham, it was Lukaku who made the most of the set piece cross.

This will undoubtedly prove a familiar scenario, with Marouane Fellaini, Victor Lindelof, Chris Smalling, Michael Carrick and potentially Ibrahimovic to enter the fray at corners and free-kicks as member of the six-foot-plus club.

Given how many goals are scored via set pieces, stacking the team with height is a means of improving odds for victory while at the other end making it harder for opponents. A Mourinjo template: obvious, yet effective.

Mourinho has assembled a quality squad which may take some stopping in the title race

Quality street

Overlooked a little amid the focus on Mourinho’s muscularity is the sheer ability of the players at his disposal. Even before United broke the deadlock their approach looked too much for Swansea. With all players comfortable on the ball, there was a concerted pressure high up the pitch and an impetus to the possession.

As Matic dictated from deeper, the forward players roamed into spaces, finding passes to tease Swansea’s defence apart and though it did not directly lead to a goal it inevitably tired the legs of those in white. It is no coincidence United have extended leads late in these two games.

In previous seasons, including Mourinho’s first but most clearly under Louis Van Gaal, possession was tantamount to tedium – control of the ball without penetration.

In South Wales, United had 59.1 per cent possession, with 57.7 per cent territorial advantage – a significant lead over a side who are themselves eager to keep ball. Against West Ham, those numbers were 55.2 per cent and 54.6 per cent.

It would mean nothing without the final product, of course, but already we have seen gilded touches to hint at continued success. Pogba’s finish against Swansea was delightful, while Martial has twice come off the bench to make a telling contribution of quality.

As well as power, United are blessed with pace through the likes of Marcus Rashford up front

Speed freaks

Perhaps of most joy to United fans treated to years of quick feet under Ferguson has been a return of lightning-fast counter attacks. Lukaku’s debut United goal was a magnificent case in point, Matic starting the move with an interception and running into open space utilised by Rashford in freeing his Belgian strike partner.

Swansea also found out the cost of losing the ball to United when key individuals are in place to ‘run free’, as Mourinho put it. Pogba galloped clear to feed Martial, whose speed in possession has never been in question.

Mourinho’s faith in Rashford has yet to be returned in a goal for the young forward but his constant desire to run at defences will cause problems for opponents all season, while Jesse Lingard can arrive off the bench to stretch backlines further when sapped of energy. Mkhitaryan is no slouch either.

Eric Bailly continues to impress at centre back following a good debut campaign last season

Case for the defence

Two clean sheets in two matches might say more about the striking deficiencies of West Ham and Swansea but with 10 men against Southampton Slaven Bilic’s side showed they are not easily blunted, so perhaps credit should go to United’s defence.

Bailly looks to have pushed on again from a promising debut campaign and Phil Jones coming back once again must feel like the most pleasing surprise. Jones has been assured and though we have been here before if he can stay injury free at the age of 25, then Sir Bobby Charlton’s comparison of Duncan Edwards may yet be shown to have validity.

Smalling is ready an able to step in, while Victor Lindelof is being kept in storage as he settles into English football. But his displays for Benfica point to a defender of considerable ability once acclimatised.

United have a deep squad, with Mourinho able to call on back-up options like Marouane Fellaini

Rotation, rotation, rotation

Mourinho has named the same side for both games, and there is little reason to suspect he will alter things for the visit of Leicester. Perhaps Martial could come in for Mata, but the Spaniard does provide an important cog upfield.

Irrespective, United’s manager has a variety of options depending on circumstances. He has brought on Fellaini in both games to shore up United at set pieces, provide midfield cover to free Pogba, and offer a route out of defence through the aerial long ball.

Then there is Lingard, able enough to play in any of the three positions behind the striker. Ander Herrara, United’s player of the season last year, cannot get in because of Matic’s imperious start, but has it within him to produce more displays of the kind that so comprehensively did for Chelsea at Old Trafford last April.

Carrick is yet to be included in a squad, while Mourinho could also expect to call upon Matteo Darmian, Marcos Rojo, and even Luke Shaw should circumstances arise. Should Lukaku get injured tactics would need to be tweaked but Ibrahimovic’s return remains probable in any case.

Then there is the continued pursuit for another winger. It is just a start, but the immediate future looks bright for United.