Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick said his side’s 4-2 win at Leeds was the “perfect response” to reports of unrest in his squad.
A story in the Mirror on Thursday suggested skipper Harry Maguire and forward Cristiano Ronaldo were “embroiled in a power struggle” over the club’s captaincy.
“We knew that it was an important win today,” said Rangnick.
“That was the best possible answer the team could give.”
He added: “It was perfect with regard to maturity, unity and the best reply that they could give to some articles last week that there was some disruption in the locker room.”
Maguire was handed the captaincy by former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer two years ago, but reports suggest his authority has been undermined by 37-year-old Ronaldo’s return.
Both the England defender and his team-mate Marcus Rashford responded on social media to say the report was not true earlier this week.
The Red Devils survived a second-half comeback to beat their rivals in front of a boisterous Elland Road crowd with Maguire nodding in the game’s opening goal.
“I think a game like this one today you can only win as a team and with the mentality of a team,” added Rangnick. “This was, apart from the three points, the most important thing.”
Objects thrown at Elanga ‘being investigated’
In the closing stages the Red Devils’ Anthony Elanga slotted home the visitors’ fourth, restoring their two-goal lead and ensuring a league double over their fierce rivals.
Earlier, the 19-year-old had been struck by an object thrown from the home crowd while celebrating his side’s third goal.
“As far as I know, there is some investigation going on from Leeds United,” said Rangnick who earlier this week admitted he was only recently made aware of the rivalry between the two clubs.
“I don’t think that anything happened in the end. Elanga looked well and he was happy about scoring.
“Obviously things like that should not happen and I think even more so in this game. The atmosphere was great.”