Wolves defender Ryan Bennett insists Manchester United should never be written off and remain a team to beat.
The 29-year-old believes United still have an aura about them despite failing to win the Premier League in six years.
United finished sixth last season but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is overhauling the squad having spent £130million on defenders Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the summer.
Wolves beat them twice last season but Bennett feels critics have been too quick to condemn United in the past.
He said: “One hundred per cent, look at where they finished last year and albeit people said they had a bad season they are still quite a way in front of a lot of teams.
“That’s the expectation they’ve got to deal with and we will be going out there and trying to get the result we want.
“It’s a massive club. Regardless of last season and the seasons before you look at it as a brand and it’s a massive club but you focus on what they do on the pitch.
“Maybe they are not as strong as before but that’s not for us to talk about. We know they had a good start to the season.”
Bennett has been impressed with United’s summer business though as they restructured their defence with £80million Maguire and £50million Wan-Bissaka.
“It’s something they feel they needed to reinforce, looking at last year, and they’ve brought in two good players,” he said.
“Maguire, what he has done in the last couple of seasons has been tremendous and Wan-Bissaka has really impressed when he’s played.”
Wolves beat United at Molineux twice last season, in the league and FA Cup, as they finished seventh – nine points behind United.
They also drew 1-1 at Old Trafford but despite their successes last season Bennett has forgotten them.
He said: “It’s a different season and the past is the past. From their side, they know they didn’t have a very good season for their standards last year and they’re looking to put that right.
“The first game (4-0 v Chelsea) they managed to get a positive result so we know it’s going to be a tough game.”
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