What a season it has been for Manchester United. A campaign of crushing lows and the occasional high ended with the biggest high of all, winning a trophy.
Manager Erik ten Hag has now secured two trophies in two seasons. It’s a record that is hard to argue with, and gives the manager a real argument to stay, amid the debate over his future.
Manchester United end 2023/24 with the FA Cup trophy won. The rest, there was not a lot to shout out.
The team finished eighth in the Premier League, eliminated early in the Carabao Cup and the Champions League. Winning the FA Cup qualifies the club for the Europa League next season.
Amid the backdrop of all of that, here are are our player ratings for the Manchester United first team squad for the 2023/24 season…
Andre Onana – 7
A real shaky start to his Manchester United career to open the season. If we were gradingAndre Onana‘s Champions League performances alone, it wouldn’t be pretty.
As the season went on, Onana really impressed, starring in the FA Cup semi-final penalty shootout. Onana now looks like he fits as United goalkeeper, and should get better next season with an improved defence in front of him.
Altay Bayindir – 5
The Turkey international played only one match since his summer move, with Erik ten Hag reluctant to leave Andre Onana out. He did well when needed, but Altay Bayindir will be underwhelmed with the way his first season went.
Tom Heaton – N/A
Tom Heaton did not play a single game despite impressing during pre-season. The third choice goalkeeper was not required.
Diogo Dalot – 9
A near ever-present, Diogo Dalot was Manchester United’s Mr Reliable, the one defender Erik ten Hag could depend on.
Dalot had to frequently play out of position on the left side, but coped well, and also provided eight goal contributions. He deservedly won the Players’ Player of the Season Award.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 6
Aaron Wan-Bissaka was excellent in the FA Cup Final, but this was not an entirely convincing campaign for the right-back.
With one year left on his deal, the jury is still out on whether he should get a long-term offer, or if the club should target a new right-back.
Luke Shaw – 3
If there was a season where Manchester United needed Luke Shaw to stay fit, it was this one. He couldn’t, with persistent injury issues causing the team’s imbalance across the campaign.
Tyrell Malacia – 0
Tyrell Malacia did not play a single minute due to injuries. It caused major problems for the team and now United do not know what to expect from him at all next season. It’s very likely a new left-back will be needed.
Sergio Reguilon – 4
Sergio Reguilon was fine when he played, but Manchester United’s temporary left-back solution on loan ended up getting struck by injuries himself, and the deal ended in January. Would it have hurt to simply give Alvaro Fernandez a go?
Harry Maguire – 8
This season has been a real return to form for centre-back Harry Maguire, who seemed to thrive without the added pressure of the captain’s armband. His decision to stay at the club and fight for his place was the right one.
Maguire answered his critics with his best season for Manchester United since 2019/20, and was desperately unlucky to miss another cup final due to injury.
Raphael Varane – 6
It was a strange season forRaphael Varane, who lost his place early in the campaign, but stepped up when he was needed, with a big performance away at Anfield, and then in the FA Cup Final.
A total of 16 Premier League starts was a poor return, though, and while it is sad to see him leave at the end of the season, his high wages and injury record made it a fairly easy decision for the club.
Lisandro Martinez – 5
This season was not what anybody had in mind for Lisandro Martinez. He spent most of 2023/24 sidelined withfoot, knee, and calf injuries.
He made it back to dominate Erling Haaland at Wembley in the FA Cup Final, and that outstanding performance alone saves his season total score from being lower than a five.
Victor Lindelof – 5
Amid all the defensive injuries, this could have been a campaign where The Iceman stood tall and built on his strong end to 2022/23.
Instead, Lindelof proved as unreliable as any other defender, and despite his experience, this feels like it is the right time to part ways and cash in on him this summer.
Jonny Evans – 8
The idea of re-signing Jonny Evans last summer sounded desperate, but it ended up being a shrewd move. The Northern Irishman was one of the team’s best defenders this season.
Evans played a lot more than even he would have expected, and you now wouldn’t find many United fans too upset if the club decided to give him one more season.
Willy Kambwala – 6
A season of progress for the young centre-back who had been blighted by injuries in the academy. Willy Kambwala ended the season with 10 first team appearances to his name.
Casemiro – 6
Last season Casemiro was one of the team’s best players. This season it felt like he had fallen off a cliff at times.
The Brazilian filled a void late in the season at centre-back, with mixed results. He gave it his all, but if there is an opportunity to sell him this summer, the team should take it. The FA Cup Final shows he is replaceable.
Christian Eriksen – 4
Ever since his injury in January 2022, Christian Eriksen has not been the same player. Several of United’s weaker performances this season came when the Dane was in the starting line-up.
Unable to offer the legs in midfield, Eriksen has become an afterthought in Erik ten Hag’s plans, and he is another one who could be sold.
Scott McTominay – 8
Scott McTominay has proven to be a very useful squad player, scoring 10 goals this season, his highest ever return for the club.
He has his limitations, but as time has gone on, Erik ten Hag has begun to work out how to get the best out of him. With other midfield exits expected, McTominay still has a role to play.
Kobbie Mainoo – 10
What a season! The pre-season injury may have been a blessing in disguise, ensuring Kobbie Mainoo did not end this campaign absolutely shattered, and he saved his best for the FA Cup Final.
We are giving Mainoo a 10/10 because, genuinely, this could not have gone any better for him.
Mainoo ends with 32 first team appearances, establishing himself as a regular starter, scoring five times, and earning his first England call-up too. Ending it with a FA Cup Final man of the match performance and goal was the icing on the cake.
Sofyan Amrabat – 7
Ask this question in mid-March and Sofyan Amrabat would have landed a much lower score. But his season now has a different slant.
Amrabat came to United to fill a gap in midfield, and he did help the team, despite not really ever getting a run of games. He saved his best performance for Wembley, and will look back on 2023/24 as a success, his one season at the club ending with a medal.
Hannibal – 5
The season started promisingly for Hannibal, who scored a goal, started a Premier League and Champions League game, and then lost the faith of his manager. He’s been warming the Sevilla bench on loan since.
Mason Mount – 3
Mason Mount will want to forget this season ever happened. He appeared to be a poor fit for Manchester United’s system, and lacking confidence after a difficult end to his Chelsea career.
The real problem for Mount was his injuries. He started only five Premier League games, especially shocking considering he did start the first two. Mount was an expensive signing, and it is unclear where exactly he fits in.
Bruno Fernandes – 8
Bruno Fernandes‘ importance to the Manchester United team was never as blindingly obvious as it was in the two games he missed towards the end of the season.
Fernandes scored 15 goals and ended up with 13 assists, including a superb assist for Kobbie Mainoo’s goal in the FA Cup Final. You could quite easily make a case that he should be a nine.
Amad – 7
What we wanted to see from Amad was progress, rather than being sent out on loan again. It was difficult for him after a pre-season injury.
He has stayed patient, and provided one of Manchester United’s most magical moments in years with his dramatic extra-time winner against Liverpool which took the roof off Old Trafford.
His late season performance against Newcastle was a real sign of what he was capable of, and Amad should enter next season firmly in the first team mix.
Facundo Pellistri – 4
A disappointing season for Facundo Pellistri despite playing more minutes than ever before, during the first half of the campaign. He was sent out on loan to Granada and could be heading for the exit.
Omari Forson – 5
A season of progress for Omari Forson after he made his first team debut. He even assisted Kobbie Mainoo’s goal against Wolves. Despite this, Forson remains on the fringes, and was not in the squad for the final.
Antony – 4
A desperately frustrating season for Antony. His saving grace was his equalising goal against Liverpool in the FA Cup. Aside from that, he’s been poor, with just one goal and one assist in the Premier League, from 29 appearances.
Alejandro Garnacho – 9
Alejandro Garnacho hit double figures for the season with his FA Cup Final goal, and his pace and positioning caused major problems for City.
Garnacho wanted to establish himself as a regular starter, mission accomplished. He has played 50 games in all competitions.
It still feels like he can reach another level, but at just 19, he has already made a big contribution to the team, and his Goal of the Season will be remembered for years.
Jadon Sancho – 0
Jadon Sancho played three time as a substitute at the start of the season before falling out with Erik ten Hag. He then sat on the sidelines for four months before leaving on loan as soon as he could.
Marcus Rashford – 5
Marcus Rashford is a victim of his own high standards. But when you score 30 goals one season, and just eight the next, it’s impossible not to view his season as disappointing.
Rashford will be glad this season is over. Missing out on the England squad may do him good, providing a proper rest. He will come back stronger.
Antony Martial – 2
Whatever your expectations of Anthony Martial this season, he still underdelivered. He scored three goals, putting in some underwhelming performances along the way, and then did not play a game after early December due to injuries.
Rasmus Hojlund – 8
The Martial problem made life very difficult for Rasmus Hojlund, who had difficult spells and excellent spells.
When he looks back, he will be very happy with what he achieved, scoring 16 goals in all competitions, and there is something to build on next season.