Robin Van Persie could not have hoped for a better start to life at Manchester United after his big-money move from Arsenal. Four goals in two starts, including a match-winning hat-trick has seen him receive widespread praise from his new teammates and manager, with club captain Nemanja Vidic the biggest admirer.
"He is a fighter and he is not scared to play a hard game as well," Vidic told the club's official website. "We like him at United for that, I think.
"Away from home against Southampton he is not scared to receive the ball and have defenders on top of his back. This is important if you want to be top goalscorer here."
Vidic was impressed with Van Persie's ability to score crucial goals, and bounce back from disappointments, especially after the Dutch striker embarrassingly missed what could have been a crucial penalty against Southampton.
"I think he's a great player," Vidic added. "Even in his first game, he did a good job and this one is amazing with three goals to give us three points, which I think are going to count very much at the end of the season.
"He's a good penalty taker but it could happen to anyone. It was not a great penalty, I have to say, but, in the end, he managed to score two more so we got the win.
"When you are a good player, it is easier to adapt but I think his desire to score plays a big part. You want to play nice football and have good touches and play nice ... it's good but I think that desire he showed to score his goals, this is top-class."
Van Persie scored two goals in the final moments of the game to turn a 2-1 deficit to a 3-2 win, and Vidic believes it is the winning mentality instilled by Sir Alex Ferguson that helps his side pull off numerous victories from seemingly impossible situations. "The manager is an inspiration for us," Vidic said. "Every year he has that hunger to win.
"He has set up that mentality in the dressing room. It is no coincidence that Manchester United have won so many games in the last minute, this is what the manager is asking from the players, to always go for the win. You are never happy with the draw. You are always going to the end and you never stop."
Vidic was disappointed with the manner in which United conceded their goals - both headers - but backed his defense to come good once they get a few games under the belt together. "It was a difficult game and we conceded two goals we're not happy with at all," he said. "We've been told before the game what Southampton's strengths are, what their game is and what they're trying to achieve.
"In the end, they did it so it's disappointing.
"I think it's only the second time in a year myself and Rio have played together so it's a long time and obviously it's tough as everyone needs more games.
"I have to say, we are not really pleased with the goals we've conceded. There was a lack of concentration, I think, for all four goals we lost (in the last two games_ but we have to work on it. You have to say we've had a lot of turbulence in defense with so many changes and people going in and going out.
"We didn't have a constant back four and sometimes it causes a problem, but we look forward to the next games. We have over a week to improve our fitness and obviously our form so we are going to be right for the next game in the Premier League."
