- Manchester United finished eighth last season
- Erik ten Hag retained his job after season review
- Recommended bet: Manchester United to finish in top six

Manchester United recorded their worst campaign in the Premier League era last season, but the club have put their faith in boss Erik ten Hag.

After lifting the FA Cup thanks to an impressive 2-1 success over neighbours Manchester City at Wembley, the United board will hope Ten Hag's men can kick on this season, silencing their critics in the process.

Last season

United fans will not spend much time dwelling on last term, even though the club managed to win a trophy for the second campaign running.

The Red Devils endured their worst top-flight season since 1990, as they finished eighth, three points behind sixth-placed Chelsea and eight points behind Aston Villa, who secured fourth and a place in the Champions League.

Ten Hag regularly bemoaned the club's lengthy injury list and, with 45 separate injury cases recorded, he had a point.

There were also plenty of headlines made off the pitch as Sir Jim Ratcliffe bought a share in the club and gained control of football matters.

Now, he and Sir David Brailsford are trying to steer the record 20-time English champions back in the right direction.

The manager

Ten Hag has been at the helm since the summer of 2022 after a successful four-and-a-half-year spell at Ajax, where he won three Eredivisie titles and two Dutch Cups.

The 54-year-old has already won the EFL Cup and FA Cup during his time at Old Trafford, but he will still be under pressure this season.

Despite some sections of the club's supporters wanting a fresh start, Ten Hag has kept hold of his job and recently signed a new one-year deal, despite reports suggesting that the likes of Thomas Frank, Gareth Southgate and Graham Potter were all on United's manager wish-list.

Transfers

With a new structure in place, United have been a lot more measured in the transfer market, with Brailsford, Jason Wilcox, Omar Berrard and Dan Ashworth now overseeing things.

Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee have joined, while Mason Greenwood, Willy Kambwala, Alvaro Carreras, Donny van de Beek, Raphael Varane, Brandon Williams and Anthony Martial have all moved on.

Sadly for United, Yoro has since picked up a significant injury, but fans will be happy to see them being a bit more composed in the transfer market.

Strengths and Weaknesses

It is tough to predict if Ten Hag will have fixed any of United's issues after a few weeks of pre-season. But it was their inability to defend that cost them dearly last season.

Ten Hag's side were often exposed, even against weaker opposition, and by April last season, had faced more shots than any other side in Europe's big-five leagues.

United's squad also lacks quality strength in depth, which became apparent once the injuries started to occur on a regular basis last term.

However, United's marquee players are young and they have the quality to yet achieve something special at Old Trafford.

Kobbie Mainoo has been a revelation in midfield, striker Rasmus Hojlund continues to improve, while Bruno Fernandes remains one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe.

The addition of Zirkzee and Yoro show United are planning for the future, which should ease fears among the club's fanbase.

Best outright bet

There are doubts surrounding Chelsea, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Tottenham's top-four chances, but United's inability to defend last season will not be solved overnight, especially with only one defender joining the club so far this summer.

United should improve on the whole, but a top-six finish is the safer play, especially when the Red Devils still have a European campaign to navigate.

Back Manchester United to finish in the top six at 3/5 with LiveScore Bet.