ETH must now set a new benchmark

FOR what was an undeniably successful season for United, there is barely a starting XI of players who should be assured of staying there next season.

-  SAMUEL LUCKHURST

United did not overachieve by finishing third in the Premier League. They practically occupied third or fourth since New Year’s Eve and it would have been remiss not to have capitalised on the disarray at Tottenham and Chelsea, or the inconsistency of Liverpool.

The incumbent or prospective owners cannot squander the fine progress Erik ten Hag has overseen. Ten Hag improved players in different positions who had stagnated and the majority of his signings have been a success.

Yet it was ominous for United that their starting side and bench for the FA Cup final were so predictable.

The list of substitutes read like a Europa League group stage dead-rubber and Ten Hag had to turn to Wout Weghorst after first summoning Alejandro Garnacho.

Weghorst will not be missed at United and his arrival is a blot on Ten Hag’s copybook. United fell into the trap of recruiting a player on the back of World Cup form and they ought to have drawn a line under Ten Hag’s predilection for targets developed in the Netherlands.