Manchester United fans will have been very pleased with how their season has gone up to this point.
The club secured a top four finish in the Premier League, also adding a first piece of silverware since 2017 by winning the Carabao Cup. While they would have been disappointed with the manner of their exit in the Europa League, they will have a chance to add another trophy when they take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final this weekend. They'll also be making a triumphant return to the Champions League next season.
United certainly made progress this season, especially in comparison to the way the 2021/22 campaign petered out under Ole Gunner Solksjaer and then Ralf Rangnick.
However, some feel that there was more than a hint of fortune about their campaign up to this point.
John Aldridge says Manchester United 'got lucky' this season
Manchester United deserved their place in the top four this season. However, some believe that they were a bit lucky to do so due to the failings of some of the other top teams in the division.
Writing in the Sunday World, former Ireland and Liverpool striker John Aldridge said that the gap between United and Jurgen Klopp's was not a big one despite the way the two sides were perceived this season.
Manchester United got lucky on a few fronts this season as they stumbled over the finishing line in the race for a top-four finish...
For starters, we had a World Cup that should never have been allowed to take place, stuck in the middle of the season.
That made it feel like two very separate stories – before and after the tournament in Qatar.
The break helped United manager Erik ten Hag as Cristiano Ronaldo was pushed out of the club just before that World Cup and, if the season was ongoing, it would have been a huge story...
Another big helping hand that has pushed United towards a top-four finish has come from their rivals, especially Chelsea and Liverpool...
When I look at the Premier League table heading into the final games today, the gap between United and Liverpool is not big.
This is a season when Liverpool have been dreadful and United have been hailed for making big progress under Ten Hag, yet they are only six points ahead.
I’m sure United will spend big this summer and if they get Harry Kane out of Tottenham, they will be a threat next season.
Yet United and the rest are still a million miles behind Manchester City and recent history suggests only one team and one manager can close that gap.
Klopp and Liverpool stood up to City during this period of dominance and the Premier League would have been much less exciting without that competition.
Those comments are sure to go down well amongst Manchester United supporters. Liverpool won't be playing Champions League football next season, while Manchester United will.
Erik ten Hag will be thrilled with how much of this season has gone for United, although the next campaign is sure to provide a stern test once again. You would imagine that Liverpool and Chelsea will improve, while Newcastle United could also be a bigger threat if they continue to strengthen in the summer.
The 2023/24 campaign could be the most competitive we have seen in quite some time towards the higher end of the table.
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