Louis van Gaal has said that no one walks into his team, that your place must be earned.
Given their professional background, and the fact that fellow Dutchman Van Persie always seems to get first team football, regardless of how he plays, you could be forgiven for thinking that Blind might not have to work for his place.
But he has, and he has very much earned his spot in midfield.
He has been consistently good since joining: something that cannot be said about many at Old Trafford.