Erik ten Hag is preventing to save lots of his ‘undertaking’ at Man United regardless of FA Cup success… he insists they’re shifting ahead, however what number of gamers have really improved below him?

Basking within the glory of Manchester United‘s sudden FA Cup win, Erik ten Hag saved returning to the identical themes.

The Dutchman likes to insist he’s working by means of a ‘undertaking’ and is succeeding in growing his gamers each individually and as a collective.

However for probably the most half this season, outcomes have simply not backed up his argument.

Whereas Ten Hag has repeatedly grasped for the mitigation of a debilitating harm pile-up when issues have gone in opposition to United, they’ve nonetheless carried out beneath the anticipated requirements.

An eighth-place end within the Premier League was their lowest in 34 years and so they ended up with a adverse purpose distinction – one thing completely unthinkable just some years in the past.

Their European marketing campaign was a whole failure and in the end had Ten Hag not discovered salvation in profitable the FA Cup the controversy over whether or not he ought to be sacked could be settled.

He might but lose his job anyway as part-owners INEOS weigh up whether or not to stay or twist.

So which United gamers have genuinely improved below Ten Hag’s tutelage? And who has seen their sport transfer backwards?

PLAYERS WHO HAVE IMPROVED

One apparent candidate is the Gamers’ Participant of the 12 months at Outdated Trafford – Diogo Dalot.

His United profession was at a crossroads when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer loaned him out to AC Milan within the 2020-21 season however now they would not do with out the Portuguese full-back.

Dalot performed in 50 video games throughout the season simply completed, proving himself adept on either side of the pitch and displaying larger attacking risk than earlier than, one thing Ten Hag and his coaches deserve advantage for.

Ten Hag additionally deserves real reward for the way in which numerous younger gamers have been introduced by means of to determine themselves as first-team regulars.

Alejandro Garnacho, 19, has change into basically undroppable, making 39 consecutive begins.

Contemplating the Argentine had solely simply gained the FA Youth Cup with United’s under-18 facet when Ten Hag arrived, the coach deserves plaudits for bringing Garnacho by means of and equipping him with the instruments to succeed.

Kobbie Mainoo, 19, is one other wonderful instance. The midfielder has been a beacon of hope for United amid the gloom of a turbulent marketing campaign.

Contemplating he solely made his first league begin for United in November and ended the season in England’s Euro 2024 squad it is outstanding progress.

United followers will likely be determined to see Amad Diallo, 21, be the following to actually make a first-team breakthrough subsequent season after his dramatic winner in opposition to Liverpool within the FA Cup.

£72million striker Rasmus Hojlund, 21, is one other giving the present United facet a youthful complexion.

That price ticket piled a variety of stress onto the Dane’s shoulders however a return of 16 targets in all competitions throughout his debut season is fairly good.

Ten Hag has efficiently guided Hojlund by means of his first season in England however he does want some back-up in assault.

PLAYERS WHO HAVE GONE BACKWARDS

United have collectively regressed from Ten Hag’s encouraging first season in 2022-23 however some gamers greater than others.

Marcus Rashford is probably the most obtrusive instance. When he scored 30 targets final season, it seemed as if Ten Hag’s arrival was the most effective factor that would have occurred to him.

However this time period, buffeted by off-field troubles, Rashford managed solely eight targets and seemed a shadow of himself in too many video games, inviting criticism and making a vicious circle.

The season resulted in Rashford failing to make even the coaching squad for England’s Euro marketing campaign, a mirrored image of how his inventory has fallen.

It is put his future at Outdated Trafford in some doubt but when each he and Ten Hag keep, a heart-to-heart is required to get him again firing once more subsequent season.

Antony is one other obtrusive instance. When Ten Hag pushed laborious for United to pay Ajax £86m to signal him in 2022, the Brazilian was one in every of European soccer’s hottest properties.

Most of his purpose contributions this season got here in opposition to League Two Newport and he was diminished to goading Coventry Metropolis gamers after United scraped previous them within the FA Cup.

He seems more and more like a horrible judgement name by Ten Hag.

Casemiro is one other sorry story. Excellent throughout Ten Hag’s first season, the skilled Brazilian midfielder seemed like a genius buy, even at £60m.

However this season has seen his kind drop off a cliff. Casemiro has repeatedly seemed sluggish and even modest groups within the Premier League have uncovered him.

Others who you can argue have slipped backwards included Raphael Varane, the defender who had a fall-out with Ten Hag in the course of the marketing campaign and is now departing.

Christian Eriksen is one other whose first season proved a false daybreak. The Dane hardly ever options and appears more and more out of his depth when he does, which is a disgrace as a result of the expertise is there.

Till his positive efficiency within the FA Cup last, Sofyan Amrabat endured a calamitous mortgage spell from Fiorentina, though it wasn’t his fault he was pressed into emergency service at left-back.

Accidents have badly interrupted however Mason Mount’s inventory has slumped since arriving from Chelsea after Ten Hag was so eager to signal him.

So a superb few have regressed and it is troublesome to not level the finger of blame on the supervisor.