Erik ten Hag is fighting to save his 'project' at Man United despite FA Cup success... he insists they're moving forward, but how many players have actually improved under him?

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Basking in the glory of Manchester United's unexpected FA Cup win, Erik ten Hag kept returning to the same themes.

The Dutchman likes to insist he is working through a 'project' and is succeeding in developing his players both individually and as a collective.

But for the most part this season, results have just not backed up his argument.

While Ten Hag has continuously grasped for the mitigation of a debilitating injury pile-up when things have gone against United, they have still performed below the expected standards.

An eighth-place finish in the Premier League was their lowest in 34 years and they ended up with a negative goal difference - something totally unthinkable just a few years ago.

Erik ten Hag insisted his Manchester United 'project' is moving forward after their FA Cup win

But their season has been a disaster at times as they went backwards from Ten Hag's first year

Their European campaign was a complete failure and ultimately had Ten Hag not found salvation in winning the FA Cup the debate over whether he should be sacked would be settled.

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He may yet lose his job anyway as part-owners INEOS weigh up whether to stick or twist.

So which United players have genuinely improved under Ten Hag's tutelage? And who has seen their game move backwards?

PLAYERS WHO HAVE IMPROVED

One obvious candidate is the Players' Player of the Year at Old Trafford - Diogo Dalot.

His United career was at a crossroads when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer loaned him out to AC Milan in the 2020-21 season but now they wouldn't do without the Portuguese full-back.

Dalot played in 50 games during the season just finished, proving himself adept on both sides of the pitch and showing greater attacking threat than before, something Ten Hag and his coaches deserve merit for.

Ten Hag also deserves genuine praise for the way a number of young players have been brought through to establish themselves as first-team regulars.

Diogo Dalot enjoyed a quietly impressive season and was the Players' Player of the Year

Alejandro Garnacho enjoyed an outstanding season, capped by his goal at Wembley 

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Alejandro Garnacho, 19, has become essentially undroppable, making 39 consecutive starts.

Considering the Argentine had only just won the FA Youth Cup with United's under-18 side when Ten Hag arrived, the coach deserves plaudits for bringing Garnacho through and equipping him with the tools to succeed.

Kobbie Mainoo, 19, is another excellent example. The midfielder has been a beacon of hope for United amid the gloom of a turbulent campaign.

Considering he only made his first league start for United in November and ended the season in England's Euro 2024 squad it's remarkable progress.

United fans will be desperate to see Amad Diallo, 21, be the next to really make a first-team breakthrough next season after his dramatic winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup.

Kobbie Mainoo was a shining light for United having made his breakthrough into the first team

Ten Hag deserves credit for bringing Mainoo and Garnacho through into the first team

Amad Diallo's dramatic winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup was a highlight of the season and fans want to see more of him next season

£72million striker Rasmus Hojlund, 21, is another giving the current United side a youthful complexion.

That price tag piled a lot of pressure onto the Dane's shoulders but a return of 16 goals in all competitions during his debut season is pretty good.

Ten Hag has successfully guided Hojlund through his first season in England but he does need some back-up in attack.

Rasmus Hojlund has made a promising start to life at United despite the pressure of his fee

PLAYERS WHO HAVE GONE BACKWARDS

United have collectively regressed from Ten Hag's encouraging first season in 2022-23 but some players more than others.

Marcus Rashford is the most glaring example. When he scored 30 goals last season, it looked as if Ten Hag's arrival was the best thing that could have happened to him.

But this term, buffeted by off-field troubles, Rashford managed only eight goals and looked a shadow of himself in too many games, inviting criticism and creating a vicious circle.

The season ended in Rashford failing to make even the training squad for England's Euro campaign, a reflection of how his stock has fallen.

It's put his future at Old Trafford in some doubt but if both he and Ten Hag stay, a heart-to-heart is required to get him back firing again next season.

Marcus Rashford has endured a really difficult second season under Ten Hag

Antony was a Ten Hag signing but has yet to justify his £86million price tag at United

Antony is another glaring example. When Ten Hag pushed hard for United to pay Ajax £86m to sign him in 2022, the Brazilian was one of European football's hottest properties.

Most of his goal contributions this season came against League Two Newport and he was reduced to goading Coventry City players after United scraped past them in the FA Cup.

He looks increasingly like a terrible judgement call by Ten Hag.

Casemiro is another sorry tale. Outstanding during Ten Hag's first season, the experienced Brazilian midfielder looked like a genius purchase, even at £60m.

But this season has seen his form drop off a cliff. Casemiro has regularly looked sluggish and even modest teams in the Premier League have exposed him.

It's been a really difficult season for Casemiro, whose game looks exposed in English football

Christian Eriksen has struggled to make much impact this season as his United career slides

Others who you could argue have slipped backwards included Raphael Varane, the defender who had a fall-out with Ten Hag in the middle of the campaign and is now departing.

Christian Eriksen is another whose first season proved a false dawn. The Dane rarely features and looks increasingly out of his depth when he does, which is a shame because the talent is there.

Until his fine performance in the FA Cup final, Sofyan Amrabat endured a calamitous loan spell from Fiorentina, although it wasn't his fault he was pressed into emergency service at left-back.

Injuries have badly interrupted but Mason Mount's stock has slumped since arriving from Chelsea after Ten Hag was so keen to sign him.

So a good few have regressed and it's difficult not to point the finger of blame at the manager.