"I have only one plan: that is to improve this club and to improve this team.”
Erik ten Hag’s comments might sound inevitable after an FA Cup final loss, but they come as an end-of-season verdict on his squad. Come September, the Manchester United boss will have had three transfer windows and this next one is arguably the most important.
The manager’s hands were tied in January after the Glazers showed him an empty purse after last summer’s £225m spend. Some may argue that, as a collective, that was an overspend but United will insist it’s about the long-term project.
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Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro have undoubtedly been successes and United would not have finished third in the Premier League without them. Antony is a regular and has come up with some important goals but has not dazzled as much as his £85million fee did.
Tyrell Malacia is a useful squad player, but nothing more yet. Perhaps that is value for money at £13m. Aged 22 and 23 respectively, there’s still time for both to fulfil their potential.
Free agent Christian Eriksen was a no-lose punt who has done his job remarkably well given what happened two years ago. United have definitely progressed and these signings have helped towards that.
The turnaround of Marcus Rashford, the leadership shown by Bruno Fernandes and the emergence of Alejandro Garnacho have contributed too with Luke Shaw and Raphael Varane, when not injured, being dependable.
But that is not enough and it’s why Ten Hag said last month he is looking for “better players” to plug the gaps around the essential squad members. ‘To improve this club’ means transfers.
Avram Glazer was at Wembley for both of United’s cup finals this season. After the League Cup success, he was invited into the Reds dressing room.
Ten Hag might have wanted to speak with him behind closed doors again on Saturday to get a better picture of his summer budget.
The United boss still does not know what size money pot he’ll get with the takeover process not concluded and the summer window less than a month away. Not ideal if United are to make an expected challenge for the title next season.
In his post-match press conference at Wembley, the Dutchman was eager to let it be known of his plan and the timing of his words are not incidental. We only have to look at what happened with a little less than 15 minutes of normal time remaining.
City were 2-1 up and United were looking to do something different to get back into the final. As Ten Hag called over Wout Weghorst ahead of his 78th-minute entry, Pep Guardiola had introduced Phil Foden just two minutes earlier. The difference in quality was clear.
The best he could bring on was Alejandro Garnacho, who made a difference but shouldn't be relied upon. Scott McTominay was the other replacement.
City didn’t even use first-choice goalkeeper Ederson, World Cup winner Julian Alvarez or semi-final hat-trick hero Riyad Mahrez.
That is the yawning gap that must be bridged if United are to close in on City next season and highlights why this summer is so important to Ten Hag who will be managing in the Champions League next season, too.
Will that gap be bridged in a single window? Even two? Probably not, especially while Pep Guardiola - Ten Hag’s former overhead at Bayern Munich - is still at the Etihad. But it’s a milepost for where United should be aiming and one Ten Hag is willing to “fight” to reach.
“Good isn’t good enough,” Ten Hag said last September. By that time this year, he will have hoped to have assembled an ‘improved’ squad with ‘better’ players as his rebuild project takes shape to start closing the gap.
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