There is no doubt Manchester United have improved under Erik ten Hag and we have picked out three players who epitomise that across 2022…
Diogo Dalot
We wrote this time last year that Dalot had started to improve under Ralf Rangnick, given the chance to get games at right-back ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
This season, he has pushed onto new levels, becoming pretty much undroppable for Ten Hag, not giving Wan-Bissaka a look-in at all.
Dalot looks like he relishes defending now, showing great desire in tackles and blocks and often celebrating them passionately with the rest of the backline.
He is a threat going forward too, and the next step is even more goals and assists during 2023, when it is likely United will sign a new right-back to offer cover and competition for the Portugal international.
David de Gea
2022 was the year that De Gea confirmed his return to form.
He won the Players’ Player of the Year award last season and since Ten Hag came in, he has clearly gone to great lengths to improve his all-round game with the ball at his feet.
At his best, de Gea has always been a phenomenal shot-stopper but now he is adding the passing game to match and help United play out from the back.
Ten Hag has so far carefully managed his contract situation smartly, but that is something which will need to be dealt with either way before the end of next year.
Marcus Rashford
At the end of last year, Rashford was back after shoulder surgery but was still struggling for form and looked weighed down on the pitch.
He has been transformed under Ten Hag, back to his best bursting in behind defences and is getting more and more clinical and consistent in front of goal.
Rashford won his England place back ahead of the World Cup and no Three Lions player scored more goals in Qatar, despite the forward only starting one game at the tournament.
All three players on this list have contract situations to sort out and the club have triggered the one-year option in Rashford’s deal before coming to a longer term resolution.
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