It is a measure of how far Manchester United have come under Erik ten Hag that a first trophy in six years and a top-four finish might now be regarded as a disappointment.
But after their self-inflicted Europa League quarter-final defeat in Seville, a reasonable conclusion is that United's supporting cast is not good enough when key players from the first-choice XI are missing. I still believe Ten Hag has done an excellent job since United's early-season horrors against Brighton and Brentford. Winning the League Cup broke the longest trophy drought at Old Trafford for 40 years.
But if United lose their FA Cup semi-final against in-form Brighton this weekend, and go out of a second competition in four days, what could have been a hat-trick of trophies this season will be reduced to one almost at a stroke. And although they are in a strong position to finish third or fourth in the Premier League, that's not yet a done deal.
