There’s no such thing as a quiet season at Manchester United but this one has been especially eventful both on and off the field.
Their Premier League campaign was a disaster with Erik ten Hag’s side finishing a lowly eighth – their worst performance in 34 years. European ambitions were done and dusted by Christmas.
But the FA Cup offered salvation with Saturday’s hugely impressive victory over rivals Man City ensuring the campaign ended on a high note, even if it may not spare Ten Hag the sack.
The club also entered a new era with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS confirming their part buy-out on Christmas Eve, wasting no time in shaking things up behind the scenes.
With the season now over, Mail Sport’s NATHAN SALT offers his assessment of every United player who featured in five or more Premier League games.
Manchester United ended a turbulent campaign on a high note with their FA Cup success
But that couldn’t conceal what has been a miserable season for the most part at Old Trafford
It remains to be seen whether winning the FA Cup is enough to spare Erik ten Hag the sack
All episodes
EPISODE 91: Can Manchester City cope without Pep Guardiola?
EPISODE 90: How Manchester United CAN win crunch FA Cup clash
EPISODE 89: Why Manchester City aren’t the reason the League is boring
‘It hasn’t worked!’ Is VAR the problem or the solution?
EPISODE 87: Why United must tear down Old Trafford and move to Wembley
Andre Onana – 38 PL appearances
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Started terribly and made a number of high-profile mistakes in the Champions League against Bayern Munich and Galatasaray that led to United finishing bottom of Group A.
Bounced back well in the second half of the campaign once he felt more at home in England and showed he can be a reliable No 1 moving forward.
MARK: 6
Alejandro Garnacho – 36 PL appearances
The FA Cup final marked 39 consecutive starts for the Argentine and at just 19 years of age he’s become one of the first names on the team-sheet.
Needs to work on his decision making, which let him down at times, but this has been an impressive season – not least for his Goal of the Season away to Everton.
MARK: 8
Alejandro Garnacho enjoyed an outstanding season, capped by his goal at Wembley
Diogo Dalot – 36 PL appearances
The most deserving recipient of Manchester United’s Players’ Player of the Season award in truth.
While he is not blameless over the course of the campaign he’s been one of the bright lights in a season full of misery. Has become more of an attacking threat this season which is a sign of his development.
MARK: 8.5
Bruno Fernandes – 35 PL appearances
United’s best player by some distance, the Portuguese midfielder finished the season with 15 goals and 13 assists and prevented a poor campaign being even worse.
Has given United four years of his prime and now they must return the favour by putting quality pieces around him.
MARK: 8
Bruno Fernandes continued to deliver even in a sub-standard Manchester United side
Marcus Rashford – 33 PL appearances
Being left out of England’s provisional squad for Euro 2024 just about caps off a miserable season for Marcus Rashford.
It has been a season where Rashford has been spoken about as much for his antics off the pitch as he has for his efforts on it.
MARK: 5
A troubled season for Marcus Rashford led to him missing out on England’s Euro 2024 squad
Scott McTominay – 32 PL appearances
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Third highest goalscorer for United this season, McTominay bet on himself in the summer amid talk of being sold on and he produced some crucial moments over the campaign, most notably a late brace to beat Brentford and the winner away to Aston Villa.
Has shown his value as a squad player.
MARK: 7
Rasmus Hojlund – 30 PL appearances
Was derided after going months without a Premier League goal but finishing with 16 goals in all competitions in his first season in England is a solid return for the 21-year-old, especially given how three injuries totally derailed any rhythm he did manage to pick up.
Will go from strength to strength with more service next season.
MARK: 6.5
Rasmus Hojlund has made a promising start to life at United despite the pressure of his fee
Antony – 29 PL appearances
His season will be defined by the cupping of his ear to taunt Coventry City’s players at Wembley after United’s semi-final penalty shootout win.
Cost £86m and hasn’t come close to paying that back on the pitch. Five goal contributions all season… two of which came against League Two Newport County.
MARK: 4
Antony has made barely any contribution this season and United have a major call to make
Casemiro – 25 PL appearances
Featured in every Premier League game since February 1 and for that he deserves credit amid United’s crippling injury problems.
But this season only solidified that the pace of the Premier League exposes the Brazilian more often than not and a move away from United this summer would be best for all parties.
MARK: 4.5
Kobbie Mainoo – 24 PL appearances
Emerged from United’s academy to become the first name on the team-sheet for Erik ten Hag.
He’s done so well – highlights including his last-minute winner to seal a 4-3 thriller away to Wolves and his goal in the FA up final – and Mainoo is now expected to make England’s final 26-man squad for the Euros.
A shining light from 2023-24 for United.
MARK: 9
Kobbie Mainoo was a shining light for United having made his breakthrough into the first team
Jonny Evans – 23 PL appearances
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The 36-year-old returned to United on a one-year contract to help plug a gap at the back and while his deficiencies at this stage in his career are obvious, he ended the season respectably.
His long-range passing impressed, leading to key goals away to Burnley and Brighton. Has given himself a shot at landing an extension.
MARK: 6.5
Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 22 PL appearances
Had some nightmarish moments across the season – none more so than the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry – but down the stretch he never shied away from the challenge and came up big against Man City in the cup final.
With a year left on his current deal his future is very uncertain, though.
MARK: 5.5
Aaron Wan-Bissaka had a mixed season and his future at United in uncertain
Raphael Varane – 22 PL appearances
The perfect ending to his Man United career with the cup win, but this has been a season of frustration for the Frenchman.
A mid-season tiff with Ten Hag coupled with injuries that kept him in and out of the side made his exit the best decision for all parties.
MARK: 6
Harry Maguire – 22 PL appearances
Was in the running for United’s end of season awards given his bounceback season.
Often found himself as the last man standing when he was the only fit senior centre back Ten Hag could choose. Deserves credit for turning his Manchester United career around.
MARK: 7
Harry Maguire has fought hard to keep alive his United career during a positive season
Christian Eriksen – 22 PL appearances
Starting just 12 league games this season, Eriksen has been a relative non-factor for United and, similarly to Casemiro, has looked slow and ponderous when he’s been sent out there.
Got a year remaining on his deal but he is one United need to move on from this summer.
MARK: 3
Sofyan Amrabat – 21 appearances
His final few games of the campaign tried to salvage what looked to have been a truly disastrous loan move from Fiorentina.
Fell out of favour early on after a poor run of games but was brought in at the very end and played a key role in the FA Cup final win. Unlikely to be signed permanently.
MARK: 4
Loanee Sofyan Amrabat saved his best until last with a fine display in the FA Cup final
Victor Lindelof – 19 appearances
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EXCLUSIVE
Roberto De Zerbi is a surprise candidate for the Man United job if Erik ten Hag is sacked – joining Kieran McKenna, Thomas Frank, Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino on the shortlist
The 29-year-old scored a key goal to seal a 1-0 win over a stubborn Luton Town side but he’s generally had an up-and-down campaign that encapsulates the chaos of United’s defence.
A groin issue and later a hamstring problem meant he was scarcely available in the second half of the season.
MARK: 5
Mason Mount – 14 PL appearances
A bitterly disappointing campaign for the England midfielder, who has spent much of it watching from the sidelines due to injury.
Took too long for Ten Hag to work out how he and Bruno Fernandes can co-exist in the team given he was the manager’s No 1 target last summer.
Clean bill of health next season and Mount will hope to play a key role.
MARK: 4
It’s been a difficult start to life at Old Trafford for Mason Mount as he battled injury setbacks
Anthony Martial – 13 PL appearances
Totally anonymous and brought his nine years at the club to an end with a whimper.
Finished the season with one Premier League goal – away to Everton – and one EFL Cup goal against Crystal Palace.
Should have been battling Hojlund for the No 9 spot and yet was more often than not nowhere to be found.
MARK: 2
Luke Shaw – 12 PL appearances
His absence has been a real blow to Ten Hag given he’s one of the best left backs in the Premier League when fit and in form.
Still faces a race against time to be fit for the Euros but a clean pre-season and a running start into 2024-25 would likely be United’s preferred route back to the pitch for him.
MARK: 3
Lisandro Martinez – 11 PL appearances
United’s woeful defensive record isn’t solely down to one thing but the absence of Martinez really hasn’t helped.
Coupled with Shaw on that left side, the pair of them elevate United’s levels massively and Martinez’s impact away to Brighton and then in the cup final showed his quality.
A season to forget for him with serious injuries keeping him out.
MARK: 5
Lisandro Martinez battled more injury woe during the season and sorely missed in defence
Sergio Reguilon – 9 PL appearances
Arrived on loan due to the unavailability of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia and initially plugged a gap at left back.
Soon found himself reduced to a bit-part role and only got one minute in his final Premier League game for United before his loan was scrapped and he headed to Brentford.
MARK: 4
Amad Diallo – 9 PL appearances
Had to be incredibly patient and his frustrations looked to spill over when he wiped his social media of United identifiers.
Came in towards the end of the campaign and delivered a truly iconic moment by knocking Liverpool out of the FA Cup at Old Trafford.
Will be talked about for years to come. Will want – and need – a bigger role next season.
MARK: 6
Amad Diallo’s dramatic winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup was a highlight of the season
Facundo Pellistri – 9 PL appearances
Was one of those to get a crack at the right wing role but he didn’t look at it and spent the season on loan at Granada.
He’s only 22 but given the wealth of young talent United have already making inroads in the first team, Pellistri isn’t at the required level and is better served going elsewhere.
MARK: 2
Willy Kambwala – 8 appearances
Showed in limited minutes that he can be part of the defensive unit going forward.
Impressed at Old Trafford when starting the 2-2 draw against Liverpool, only to get schooled in the following game away to Bournemouth. At 19 he’s only going to get better and better.
MARK: 6.5
Hannibal Mejbri – 5 PL appearances
Started just once – away to Burnley – in the first half of the campaign before Mejbri was shipped out to Sevilla in a loan that has not gone well at all.
Back at Old Trafford he’s seen Mainoo soar past him and while he’s got a year left on his deal, he doesn’t look to have any future at Manchester United.
MARK: 2
