The first time it was brought to my attention was after an interview with former United Keeper Ben Foster and what he explained as the differences between Birmingham and Manchester United.
"It's just a bit more relaxed at Birmingham than it was at United," said Foster. "A club like United is cut-throat, win at all costs, whereas here you know you're not going to win every game but the players that we've got, we battle for 90 minutes and don't give someone a second breath. There is more pressure at United, without a doubt. Even if we drew it was the end of the world, two points dropped, regardless if we got back into it in the last minute."
This pressure to win and reluctance to accept anything other than a victory is what has driven United this season. Foster might not have been comfortable with the "cut throat" environment at the club but this is what has made United the most successful English side in the last two decades.
This season United have been under the cosh for long periods of games numerous times but have come out out with points from all of them bar the game against Wolves. When you see Sir Alex Ferguson after a defeat you can see that it has visibly affected him, and this ethic is transferred to the players. One example of this is Rio Ferdinand's attitude towards a game against Aston Villa in which United trailed 2-0 but grabbed two late goals to ensure the gained a point from the fixture in comparison to the England national sides' performances.
"Finding the formula, you could say, is part of management. The manager has it at Manchester United.
"You look at the game on Saturday [against Aston Villa]. We're down, he sends on two attacking players and that puts you on the front foot.
"You respond to that. It stems from the manager, you don't want to go into the dressing room and face him if you've left something on the pitch.
"But that said, it's not just management. Up till now as players we've not done our bit. There's no hiding from that."
This shows a collective winning mentality, a manager who has instilled a winning mentality into his players and players who understand the managers expectations of them, add a bit of fear of the manager into this and you have a formidable unit. Regardless of the quality of the players a well drilled team can cause anyone problems. With the scouting systems teams have these days its also possible to have reports on the mentality of players which I feel United do particularly well.
Tottenham striker Jermaine Defoe pointed out his experiences with some Manchester United players when asked what his team needed to become title challengers.
"I think it’s important to have that winning mentality, the mentality that the United players used to have.
"I remember when I first got into the England squad, all my mates would ask me what it was like training. I used to tell them, ‘You know what? It’s mad’. Because the Man United players, the likes of Rio, Phil Neville, Gary Neville, Becks, even in training and in little five-a-sides, wanted to win every game.
“And if they didn’t win they’re moaning and moaning, it was amazing. Sometimes they’d still be talking about it over dinner."
This winning mentality is further enhanced by Ferguson's willingness to sell any player who isn't willing to buy into the collective team ethic. The players who have fallen include Paul Ince, Lee Sharpe, David Beckham and Ruud Van Nistelrooy. Players like Nani, Anderson and Wes Brown have all been frozen out for various reasons but have returned and have been noticeably improved players.
This season has shown why Ferguson runs the club in the way he does. On paper rivals Chelsea and Arsenal have equal quality but it is visible neither have same discipline and drive to win, from the way their seasons have panned out so far.
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