We're not even halfway through what is set to be an absolute slog of a season yet it's already been a wild rollercoaster for Manchester United.
Much of the drama and intrigue has come when no domestic football has even been played. Cristiano Ronaldo's bombshell interview with Piers Morgan dropped on the evening after United's final game before the World Cup break and the mutual termination of his contract followed swiftly afterwards. Then the much happier news of the Glazers are open to selling the club has fuelled yet more optimism around Old Trafford.
On the pitch, new boss Erik ten Hag has been making steady progress in his quest to be the one to finally restore United to their former glory. It was an inauspicious start with embarrassing defeats to Brighton and Brentford and there was more to come, namely the hammering suffered at the hands of Manchester City. But there have been a couple of decent undefeated streaks as well as victories over Liverpool, Tottenham and leaders Arsenal and a draw with Chelsea.
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United are three points off fourth with a game in hand, into the Europa League knock-outs and still competing in both domestic cups once the season resumes at the end of December and there could be much more success to come. But for now, here are the winners and losers of the campaign so far.
Winners
The biggest winner has to be Ten Hag. The new manager came in with the mammoth task of turning around the club's ill fortune on the pitch, instilling discipline, rectifying the toxic atmosphere, bringing balance to a poorly designed squad and inspiring an upturn in results. That's an awful lot to do and the job is by no means done yet but great progress is already being made.
On the field, while there can still be frustrating defeats and it will clearly take more time for the players to fully grasp his methods, improvements are clear to see and they look like a more dynamic, solid and tactically astute side with good wins against tough opposition already. It's off the pitch where Ten Hag has truly shone, though.
His deft handling of the whole Ronaldo situation - from defending him after Rayo Vallecano, punishing him but giving him a route back after his strop against Tottenham and then, presumably, having a say in his exit - has shown he is a firm but fair hand and is not afraid to enforce the law on even the biggest of egos possible. Ronaldo's direct insult has also solidified the Dutchman's position even further in the eyes of supporters.
Ten Hag's work in the transfer market shouldn't go unnoted either. With the exception of possibly Casemiro, United's out-field additions were clearly players he targeted. Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez have already made massive impacts, Antony has had a bright start with plenty more to come and Tyrell Malacia has shown potential as well. He has only been in the job for a short amount of time but is already shaping the club in his image.
The other names in the winners' section are likely only there because of Ten Hag as well. Casemiro, Martinez and Eriksen have been United's most consistent performers this year and have transformed the spine of the side.
Diogo Dalot is perhaps the most improved player by far. The right-back's days at Old Trafford appeared numbered before Ten Hag immediately made him his first choice and he has repaid that faith with a drastic development in the defensive and offensive sides to his game.
After a long wait in which some people's faith may have waivered, Marcus Rashford has finally begun to return his best. The forward is the top scorer, with twice as many as his nearest competitor, and more importantly, looks full of confidence again at long last. His excellent form has continued at the World Cup and, hopefully, it will continue to do so once he returns. Anthony Martial has had a similar phoenix from the ashes story but has rarely been available due to three different injuries.
Finally, Alejandro Garnacho has been the breakout star following his introduction into the first team by Ten Hag. The Argentine live wire has looked exciting in his appearances so far and already has two winners to his name. With Ronaldo gone, he could be about to get plenty more opportunities to shine.
Losers
Though from his perspective he may well think he's won as he finally got his wish to leave, it's still hard to see a bigger loser than Cristiano Ronaldo. It's no shame for a player who has been so good for so long to finally have age catch up to him and lose a touch of quality, but the Portuguese has not handled the inevitable decline with any sort of dignity. His farce of an interview has tarnished his legacy at Old Trafford and could well have spelt the end of his career in European club football.
In terms of players who are still at United, it's not been a good campaign for Aaron Wan-Bissaka and he may be next out of the door. Ten Hag came to the club not rating the right-back and that hasn't changed. Even if he hadn't been injured for a large chunk of the season, it's unlikely that he'd have played much more than the four minutes he has managed.
Though he is once again turning on the style for England, Harry Maguire's struggles have continued for his club. The captain has made several costly errors at the back and is now fourth in the centre-back pecking order.
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