The 2-1 defeat to City at Wembley a year ago, decided by Ilkay Gundogan’s double, was painful, but came at the end of a season of progress, in which Ten Hag’s side won the League Cup, returned to the Champions League and appeared to be gathering momentum as a force again.
Today, the outlook for the Dutchman is very different, and while the head coach will view the game as another opportunity to convince United’s new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe that there is still life in his project, the die has surely been cast.
It has been an historically wretched campaign for United, including a lowest-ever Premier League finish, 14 defeats and a first-ever negative goal difference. Change is inevitably coming at Old Trafford, even if they spring an almighty surprise at Wembley.
Denne historien er fra May 24, 2024-utgaven av Evening Standard.
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Denne historien er fra May 24, 2024-utgaven av Evening Standard.
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