Despite disastrous season, Ten Hag sees potential

While it has been a season to forget for Manchester United, manager Erik ten Hag said he has maintained a positive outlook virtually throughout, because he sees the potential of his squad and understands the reasons behind the team's struggles.

Manchester United's potential was on display in Wednesday's entertaining 3-2 Premier League win over Newcastle United, as three of the team's least experienced and youngest players — Kobbie Mainoo (19), Amad Diallo (21) and Rasmus Hojlund (21) — scored.

"I see the positives, I see that this team is developing, I know the reasons why we are not performing," Ten Hag said. "No team will perform when the whole (injury-depleted) back four is not available, across the season.

"Even our striker Hojlund was injured three times, (Marcus) Rashford was also injured, so we have had our problems across the season, and that had a negative impact on the results.

" (But) you see players performing, and you see players progressing, like the youngsters, and that is very positive. There is great potential in this club. So, there are also many positives in this season, but I can't mention this. You know why? At the end of the day, we have to win trophies. And in the Premier League, and in the Champions League, we didn't perform as people expected from us."

Ten Hag's men remained eighth in the table with Wednesday's win, but level on 57 points with 7th-placed Newcastle in the fight for a European berth next season.

The victory at Old Trafford in its home finale felt like a reward for fans, who have endured one of the worst home campaigns in the club's history, and Ten Hag addressed the supporters, whom he called the "best in the world", after the final whistle.

"We wanted to thank them for sticking with us, we are in difficult times," he told Sky Sports. "We are in a transition and the results are not what we expect. We have our reasons, but it's still a disappointing season.

"I am very pleased (with Wednesday's win). Recently, we've had many games where we were in winning positions, but we couldn't get over the line."

If Ten Hag's men beat the defending FA Cup champion Manchester City on May 25th, they will play in the Europa League next season. However, if City wins, United will need to finish seventh to secure a place in the Europa Conference League.

United, which has never finished lower than seventh in the Premier League era, plays away to Brighton on Sunday and needs to better Newcastle's result at Brentford on the same day to move up to seventh place.

REUTERS