Defeat at Sunderland on the 13th February left United six points off the Champions Leage places, and, when that was followed five days later by a miserable defeat in Midtjylland, it seemed like the point of no return for Van Gaal's United reign.
Since then, though, United have progressed into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and a home game with West Ham for a place at Wembley, and a two-legged tie against old foes Liverpool awaits in the Europa League.
We moved level on points with faltering City following Wednesday's win over Watford and- with our other top four rivals all dropping points- the top four now looks a very realistic prospect.
In the quarter finals of one cup and last 16 of another- with very winnable ties in both- as well as a vast improvement in both results and performances, the landscape suddenly looks a whole lot better for the Reds.
Ten points off the top with as many games remaining, a late charge for the title seems unlikely but yet, in this strangest and most unpredictable of Premier League seasons, how can you totally rule it out.
It's a long shot and we're outsiders, but odds of 33/1 on United winning this season's title would suggest that it's not quite as outlandish as it may seem.
The games continue to come thick and fast for United: a difficult-looking test at West Bromwich Albion is followed by that game with West Ham, sandwiched between the two legs of the Europa League tie with Liverpool.
It still seems likely that Van Gaal will leave the club in the summer, but should maintain our current momentum and finish in the top four- coupled with a trophy or two- then it might make that decision a little harder for the Old Trafford hierarchy.
Avram Glazer was in attendance on Wednesday during the Watford match, and if he was checking on this mini revival at close quarters, then he would've taken a much more brighter update back to Florida.
There has been so much more to enjoy about United in recent games after such a desperately disappointing season.
Minnows Midtjylland and Shrewsbury were dispensed of in professional and emphatic fashion, Arsenal- well they were just Arsenal and United managed to win ugly on Wednesday- something we've not done enough of this term.
It's been a crazy season.
For all the negative criticism surrounding United in recent months, we've still got a good chance of two trophies and have seen our league season revitalised.
That's craziest of all.
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