Why Manchester United’s 2023/24 season might not as bad for Erik ten Hag as many believe

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There is one positive statistic from this season that may well get the Manchester United fanbase back onside after a difficult start to the campaign.

Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United, after a rather inconsistent start, currently sit in eighth place in the division just five points outside of the Champions League positions, although sides around them have a game in hand.

This may not seem like a positive but if last season is anything to go by, then the Red Devils may well be in business if they can get some of the team’s missing players back in the next month or so.

One, rather surprising, statistic has emerged following the victory over Fulham.

United’s surprising similarity

Remarkably, after 11 games of this season, United have 18 points from a possible 33.

Well, last season the Red Devils also had 18 points from a possible 33 games.

This isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement of the start to the season that the Red Devils have made but it certainly isn’t something to ignore.

For all the talk about United being miles from where they were last season, the club has the same amount of points, so progress could well be made from here.

The massive asterisk next to United’s name this season should be the sheer amount of injury issues the club has had to deal with this season, it is truly unprecedented.

The argument may be that the Red Devils have had an easier start to this season but Ten Hag’s side have still had to face Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion, it hasn’t been a walk in the park.

United’s chance

Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s return helped at the weekend and moreplayers are gradually due to filter back. Some have longer absence dates than others, but it is worth noting that Luke Shaw, Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez and Marcus Rashford were all out against Fulham.

United simply have to get better and it’s hard to imagine a scenario where they won’t improve once this quartet returns.

Ten Hag has had to weather a few strong storms over the last few months, if he can keep in touch with the top five, he would be doing a superb job based on the circumstances he has had to cope with.