Louis van Gaal has admitted that Manchester United are better without the ball than with it.
United have begun the Premier League season by keeping clean sheets in each of their first three games but have only scored two goals.
And Van Gaal, whose side were held 0-0 by Newcastle at Old Trafford on Saturday, said the element of their game that has pleased his most is their structure when the opposition are in possession.
"Until now our defensive organisation," he said in a news conference. "I divide football into four main moments and we have two moments when the opponent has the ball and then we are at our best.
"We have proved that last year also but now we are continuing with a lot of clean sheets so that is very important but we have to improve when we have the ball."
United's only strikes in the Premier League have been an own goal from Tottenham right-back Kyle Walker and a deflected shot from Adnan Januzaj against Aston Villa.
But they have been prolific in Europe and have a 3-1 first-leg lead ahead of Wednesday's return fixture against Club Brugge in the Champions League playoffs.
Van Gaal denied his team would get complacent, explaining: "I don't think my players shall take it easy. We have the same preparation and I don't think they shall start differently as last week."
On Tuesday, Van Gaal said he sees Marouane Fellaini as more of a striker than a central midfielder this season.
He said in a news conference: "He can play in a No. 9 position and a No. 10. He can also play [as a No.] 6 [a holding midfielder] and [a No.] 8 [a box-to-box midfielder] but this year he shall play more 9 and 10 than 6 and 8 because there we have other players."