United’s season went from bad to worse.

It’s safe to say that expectations Man United fans had for the 2023-24 season were a long way from being met.

United made encouraging progress in the first season of Erik ten Hag’s management, returning to the Champions League and winning a trophy for the first time in six years.

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This season has been a real step back, with United sinking to eighth place in the table, their lowest ever finish in a Premier League campaign.

United’s only hope of silverware – and indeed securing a place in the 2024-25 Europa League – rests on the FA Cup final clash with neighbours and champions Manchester City on Saturday.

United won 18 games, drew six and suffered a staggering 14 defeats. For the first time since 1989-90, United finished a league campaign with a negative goal difference.

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Such a poor league showing also stripped United of a record they had held for over 30 years.

For the first time since 1992, Man United are not the best ‘United’ in English football.

That’s because while Newcastle United tied with United on 60 points, the Magpies ranked in seventh place thanks to their superior goal difference of 23, compared to United’s -1.

While Ten Hag’s side conceded four goals fewer than Newcastle, Eddie Howe’s side scored 28 goals more.

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Ten Hag and has players have come in for heavy criticism this term, particularly from former players-turned pundits.

Goalkeeper Andre Onana, who struggled to settle at first following his move from Inter Milan last summer, has called for criticism to be directed at older members of the squad like himself rather than the youngsters.

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Alex Brotherton is a journalist at SPORTbible. He has previously worked with publications including the Manchester Evening News, GOAL and BBC Sport. He is a football fanatic, but also dabbles in tennis and American football. He can often be found watching dreadful non-league football.