Angel Di Maria insists Manchester United have grown under new manager Louis van Gaal despite their latest Premier League setback.
Defeat to Southampton at Old Trafford last Sunday means Van Gaal, who spent 150 million pounds on improving his squad last summer, has earned 37 points from 21 league games -- the exact total David Moyes achieved at the same stage last season.
United's position has improved -- they currently lie fourth as opposed to seventh under Moyes -- and Van Gaal has been restricted in his selection due to the club's severe injury crisis.
However, with several players returning to fitness in recent weeks, Di Maria says his teammates are working hard to implement the new manager's philosophy.
"From the start of the season to now, you can see that we've grown," Di Maria told MUTV. "We weren't so great at the beginning but we've started getting a few victories under our belts.
"There are some people saying that we're not playing in a particularly good style or that it's not the old Manchester United -- but it's not. We're beginning something new here. We've got a new style, we've got a new manager and we're all working hard to make sure we're putting Manchester United back where it belongs."
Van Gaal's summer spending spree, which included a British record transfer fee of 59.7 million pounds on Di Maria, came after the club failed to qualify for this season's Champions League.
A return to Europe's premier competition appears top of Van Gaal's objectives, with the club's chief executive Ed Woodward having warned him about the financial implications should they miss out for a second successive season.
Di Maria says the players are concentrated on achieving what is asked of them, adding: "We're focusing on growing as a team. Working hard and getting as many points as we can.
"We all know the Premier League is difficult but all we're focusing on now is meeting our objectives and our targets for the year. Whether it's qualifying for the Champions League, making sure that we do well in the FA Cup or getting as high in the league as possible, these are things we are going for now."