Manchester United captain Harry Maguire says manager Erik ten Hag's methods have clicked since the World Cup.
The Carabao Cup was United's first piece of silverware since 2017 and was described as a "really important" step for the club by Maguire, who also praised the impact Ten Hag is having.
"I think winning games breeds confidence and a good atmosphere amongst the fans and the club," he told the Manchester Evening News.
"We are all pulling in the same direction, we all want the same thing, we have got a good squad, good competition for places and the manager's made a big impact on the style of play and in the demands he brings, it seems to be going in a good place."
It could be the first of several trophies season, with United into the FA Cup fifth round, the Europa League last-16 and still on the fringes of the Premier League title race.
Maguire has sensed an improvement in the performances of the team and the understanding of what Ten Hag wants since the season resumed after the World Cup, winning 15 of the 19 games in all competitions in that period.
"I think coming back from the World Cup we have started to play really well, before the World Cup we had great fight and spirit [but] we didn't really put in the actions that the manager wanted," he said.
"But since the World Cup we did that. We are in four competitions, three now because we have won one, and it's going to be tough to win all four but whilst we are in them we go into every game trying to win it, starting with Wednesday."