Last season was an uplifting campaign for Manchester United as Erik ten Hag led a dishevelled team out of the darkness of their worst ever Premier League season and towards a bright new future. The Dutchman immediately secured a return to the Champions League by leading United to third in the league, beating all their major rivals at least once.
He also delivered a first major trophy in six years by lifting the Carabao Cup and led his team to the FA Cup final. There was also an exciting Europa League campaign and a night to savour when they knocked out Barcelona. Ten Hag has certainly got United heading towards where they want to be.
They are not there yet, however, as demonstrated by a series of harrowing defeats last season to Sevilla, Manchester City, Brentford, and the 7-0 thrashing by Liverpool. Now, they need to take the next step, which means making a serious challenge for the Premier League title. United have not made a proper push for the league since they last won it in 2013 and last season their faint hopes of catching Arsenal and City ended in January.
Ten Hag has got all the targets he wanted after signing Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund and Andre Onana for £165 million ($209m). He has been given the authority to revamp the squad, urging the club to make a U-turn on David de Gea's contract and cutting their losses on Harry Maguire.
Now it's up to him to lead the club back to where they truly belong, which is winning the biggest trophies. The Carabao Cup will not suffice this season, and it's time for United to go all out to win a first Premier League title in 11 years and make a real statement in the Champions League.