Erik ten Hag first Manchester United season assessed after FA Cup final loss
Daily Mail Erik ten Hag's first season as Manchester United manager ended on a low note as rivals Manchester City beat them in Saturday's FA Cup final.
Despite a quite literal helping hand from Jack Grealish, United were clearly second-best to Pep Guardiola's side at Wembley as City took another step towards emulating the Reds' 1999 Treble.
Ten Hag admitted his side were 'broken' after the defeat but rightly pointed out there are 'a lot of positives to take into next season.'
That is undeniable. The Dutchman has United heading in the right direction again after several years of drift under various predecessors.
They finished third in the Premier League and ended a six-year trophy drought by lifting the Carabao Cup back in February.
Adding the FA Cup by beating a City team that has swept all before them this season was always going to be a tough ask, with a clear gap remaining between the two.
So that defeat shouldn't take the shine off a pretty good season for United, which we assess here.
THE POSITIVES
Returning United to the Champions League
When Ten Hag arrived from Ajax 12 months ago, returning United to what they believe is their rightful place in the UEFA Champions League was objective No 1.
