Manchester United ended the season in style, beating Brighton and Hove Albion 2-0 to prepare for the FA Cup final in perfect fashion.
United followed up a fine home win over Newcastle United by picking up another three points at the Amex Stadium.
Diogo Dalot fired United in front, making a brilliant run in behind the Brighton defence to slot home with real confidence.
Rasmus Hojlund then came off the bench to wrap up the win, driving the ball home from a Christian Eriksen pass.
Two wins to end the season is just what Erik ten Hag needed, not just amid questions over his future but also because United have a huge game next weekend.
United head to Wembley Stadium to take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final, hopeful of revenge after losing the final to City last season.
Ten Hag really needed to gain some momentum ahead of that game and the final-day win over Brighton certainly helps with that.
Erik ten Hag on Diogo Dalot
One of the key performances at Brighton came from full back Dalot.
The Portugal international was once again deployed as a left back with Aaron Wan-Bissaka over on the left hand side.
We have seen Dalot as a left back on many, many occasions since arriving from Porto for £19million back in the summer of 2018.
Dalot was superb at Brighton, not only registering a goal but also two key passes, two tackles, one interception and one clearance.
As quoted on United’s official website, Ten Hag has suggested that Dalot is becoming a very rounded full back in terms of his attacking play.
Ten Hag believes that Dalot is already so good at making runs in behind and whipping crosses in, but is now improving as an inverted full back too.
Dalot has bags of technical ability and bring him into the midfield area maybe isn’t the worst idea at times.
Ten Hag added that Dalot’s development this season has been ‘very good’, adding that United are happy with his progress.
“It is about making overloads in midfield and, from there on, he is a very good runner in behind, he can do it from left and right full-back,” said Ten Hag. “He can attack from there but also in the centre areas and on wide areas, by bringing crosses in. He is a player who has developed as a full-back, and not as just as a full-back, but also as an inverted one too. I think his development has been very good this season and we are very pleased with him,” he added.
Dalot has shut down Jeremie Frimpong rumours
United handed Dalot a new contract last summer, signifying the belief in him really kicking on and developing.
That didn’t stop rumours surrounding a possible move to sign Bayer Leverkusen ace Jeremie Frimpong.
No deal was done then but even with Frimpong potentially leaving Leverkusen this summer, the United rumours have quietened down.
Maybe that is because United won’t have Champions League football next season, but it maybe it’s because Dalot has really developed.
United may still go for another right back if Wan-Bissaka moves on, but will now feel comfortable with the right back options after seeing Dalot step up his game.
We can’t see United making a move for Frimpong now and with Alejandro Garnacho picking out Dalot as his Player of the Season, it is all going well for the one-time Jose Mourinho signing.