one Deal✅:Antony to Man City has been approved today,£210M rated, player to replace Erling Haaland Sealed deal 🤝💯Pep Guardiola smiles 😊😁
Done Deal✅:Antony to Man City has been approved today,£210M rated, player to replace Erling Haaland Sealed deal 🤝💯Pep Guardiola smiles 😊😁
power rankings: Outstanding Alejandro Garnacho goes top while Rasmus Hojlund & Kobbie Mainoo also rise – but inconsistent Bruno Fernandes slides
Power rankings
Manchester United
Marcus Rashford
Bruno Fernandes
Scott McTominay I
Andre Onana
Rasmus Hoejlund
Mason Mount
Harry Maguire
Alejandro Garnacho
Kobbie Mainoo
Premier League
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Erik ten Hag’s side have recovered from a dire start to join the race for the top four – but who has shone brightest and who needs to step up?
It has been a long time coming, but Manchester United appear to be on the way back. Erik ten Hag’s side seem to have put the jittery form that dogged their first half of the season behind them and have found their groove, winning five of their six games in 2024 while remaining unbeaten.
After being ravaged by injuries to key personnel throughout the campaign, Ten Hag has the majority of his squad available and has been able to pick a consistent starting XI. Casemiro looks much-improved after his long lay-off and is developing a strong partnership with teenage sensation Kobbie Mainoo in the engine room.
Mainoo is not the only youngster who is thriving, with Alejandro Garnacho raising his game with each performance and Rasmus Hojlund locating his shooting boots, scoring in five Premier League games in a row. Marcus Rashford is also improving, notwithstanding his wild boozy night out in Belfast.
The arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS crew has also helped lift the mood at Old Trafford, giving the club purpose again after 13 months of uncertainty following the strategic review. The new minority owners have already caused a stir by appointing Omar Berrada from rivals Manchester City as their next CEO, while Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford have created a buzz around the place with regular visits to Old Trafford and Carrington.
With things improving on and off the pitch, United fans are finally looking towards the final stretch of the season with optimism.
GOAL has rated every Manchester United player’s performance so far this season to figure out who should be the frontrunners for the club’s Player of the Season award…
Previous update: November 27, 2023.
Article continues below
Tyrell Malacia Manchester United Sevilla 2022-23Getty Images
23Tyrell Malacia (N/A) ⬇️
The Dutch defender is yet to make an appearance this season after suffering a knee injury last summer.
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Antony Manchester United 2023-24Getty
22Antony (3/10) ⬇️
Antony’s already disappointing United career took a turn for the worse when his alleged violent behaviour towards women exposed a very troubling aspect of his personality and plunged the club into another off-field crisis, just when they thought they had put the Mason Greenwood saga behind them.
United gave the £85m ($105m) winger a leave of absence to deal with the accusations, and since returning he has continued to struggle. It took him almost six months to score his first goal of the season, a tap-in at Newport, which says it all.
He has had one memorable game against Chelsea, but otherwise has continued to be too slow and too predictable, with every defender in the country knowing that he will always try and cut inside from the right wing.
Garnacho has now made the right wing his own and Antony has not started a league game since the 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest on December 31. United have been undefeated since then, which is no coincidence.
Anthony Martial Manchester United 2023-24Getty
21Anthony Martial (3/10) ⬇️
Martial’s United career is grinding towards its inevitable end, and he has naturally been usurped in the starting XI by Hojlund ever since the Dane recovered from his early-season back injury. Martial returned to the starting line-up against Newcastle and Bournemouth in December and was abject in both matches, getting particularly strong criticism from pundits for his anonymous display at St James’ Park.
His last game was the dreadful 3-0 loss to Bournemouth and he is not due back until April after undergoing surgery on his groin. He may have played his last game for the club, although many fans will argue he should never have lasted as long as he has.
Mason Mount Man Utd 2023-24Getty
20Mason Mount (3/10) ⬇️
Mount could hardly have had a worse start to his Manchester United career. The midfielder came with a £60-million price ($74m) price tag that many thought was inflated after a poor last campaign with Chelsea, and he produced few moments of excitement in pre-season, while it remained unclear exactly why Ten Hag wanted to sign him.
His competitive debut against Wolves was hugely underwhelming as he created no chances and couldn’t even win a tackle or a duel. His second match against Tottenham was equally disappointing, and then he picked up a hamstring injury. He has gone under the radar since returning, with his best performance coming in the Carabao Cup win over Palace, where he got his only assist for the club.
He has been discarded by Ten Hag for many games and just when he looked set for a run in the team after Christian Eriksen’s injury, he sustained a calf problem, the latest negative episode of what is turning out to be a nightmare move.
Altay Bayindir Man Utd 2023-24Getty
19Altay Bayindir (4/10) ⬆️
The Turkish goalkeeper finally made his debut in the FA Cup tie against Newport, almost five months after joining from Fenerbahce and following repeated snubs by Ten Hag. It was not a great debut as he conceded two goals, and as soon as Andre Onana returned from the Africa Cup of Nations, Bayindir returned to the bench.
It is likely to take an injury to the Cameroonian for Bayindir to feature again this season.
Sofyan Amrabat Manchester United 2023-24Getty Images
18Sofyan Amrabat (4/10) ⬇️
The Morocco international had to wait three weeks to make his debut following his loan switch from Fiorentina, and his performances have been a mixed bag. He had a strong first start against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup in the unfamiliar position of left-back, but he was then exposed against the Eagles in the Premier League and in the shambolic 3-2 defeat by Galatasaray.
Since returning to midfield, Amrabat has not improved significantly and seems to struggle with the intense pace of the Premier League, demonstrated by the fact Ten Hag has only played him for more than an hour on four occasions since October.
He has not started since Liverpool in December, although he has been on international duty with Morocco in the AFCON. Most United fans would prefer for Amrabat to continue to have a peripheral role for the remainder of the season.
Aaron Wan-BissakaGetty
17Aaron Wan-Bissaka (5/10) ⬇️
Has looked as reliable as usual defensively but missed six weeks after injuring his hamstring against Brighton. Has since lost his place in the team to the excellent Diogo Dalot and has not featured since the 2-2 draw with Tottenham on January due to injury.
Jonny Evans Man Utd 2023-24Getty Images
16Jonny Evans (5/10) ⬇️
The veteran defender was a surprise signing over the summer, but has rolled back the years and gave an astonishing performance in the vital win against Burnley, providing a dream assist to Fernandes.
He was solid against Brentford and Sheffield United, but looked completely out of his depth in the 3-0 drubbing by City, showing his limitations. He did produce a strong performance in the draw at Anfield and has generally done well when called upon, although he has not started a league game for a month.
Should continue to be a useful squad player for the remainder of the season, but fans would prefer it if he did not start too often, particularly against the strongest opponents.
Victor Lindelof Manchester United 2023-24Getty
15Victor Lindelof (5/10) ⬇️
The Swede made a decent start to the campaign, but then had his fair share of horror-shows against Brighton, Galatasaray and Brentford. He was forced to deputise at left-back due to United’s chronic injury problems and found it very tough, particularly in the 3-0 defeat by Manchester City.
He did overtake Raphael Varane in the pecking order for a stretch and scored the only goal of the game against Luton, but was ruled out for two months with surgery. He had a shaky comeback at Villa, being run ragged by Leon Bailey after being forced to again deputise at left-back.
Christian Eriksen Manchester United 2023-24Getty Images
14Christian Eriksen (6/10) ⬇️
The Dane started most games last season before being the first player to come off after getting worn out. The opposite has been the case this term: Eriksen routinely starts on the bench and is then the first player Ten Hag looks to when things start going wrong.
He came to United’s rescue in the opening game of the season against Wolves, giving the team some much needed stability in midfield after they had been overrun. He also sparked the fightback against Forest with a goal while a clever through-ball to Rashford set up the opening strike against Arsenal, and he fed Hojlund with some wonderful passes against Galatasaray.
His lack of energy continues to hold him back, though, particularly when United are on the backfoot. Injury problems have limited him to making just three starts since November and has not played at all since a particularly bad performance against Tottenham, being an unused sub for the last three matches.
Luke Shaw Manchester United 2023-24Getty Images
13Luke Shaw (6/10) ⬆️
United badly missed Shaw’s experience and leadership when he was absent for almost three months with a hamstring problem, and he gave the team a huge lift when he returned in November. His injury problems haunted him again in late December, forcing him to miss around five weeks.
His return again raised the team’s levels and he was outstanding in the dramatic win at Wolves, dovetailing effectively with Rashford. But his vulnerability to fitness problems has come under fresh scrutiny after he was taken off at Villa.
Marcus Rashford Manchester United 2023-24Getty Images
12Marcus Rashford (6/10) ⬆️
Rashford was United’s best player by a mile last season and his drop-off this campaign has been alarming. He was the best of a very bad bunch in the first few weeks of the campaign, but his form continued to dip and he was finally dropped from the team in December. He has steadily improved since the start of the new year, however, scoring in three consecutive league games.
His attitude and reputation took a real beating after he reported ill for training just hours after being seen in a Belfast nightclub, although he redeemed himself with a goal and encouraging performance in his next game at Wolves. Rashford still has a lot to do to get the fans back on side and get back to his level of last season, but at least the positive signs are there.
Lisandro Martinez Manchester United 2023-24Getty Images
11Lisandro Martinez (6/10) ⬆️
The World Cup-winning Argentine was one of United’s most important players last season until his campaign was wrecked by a horrific foot injury. The injury continued to affect him when he returned and he was one of United’s worst performers, with poor displays against Tottenham, Forest, Brighton and Bayern Munich.
It then became apparent that he had not recovered properly from the injury and suffered a relapse, forcing him to have a second operation, ruling him out until 2024. Martinez’s return in late January was a welcome shot in the arm for Ten Hag’s side and he was superb against Wolves, clearing a shot off the line as well as improving United’s passing game.
He was also impressive against West Ham until disaster struck and he injured his knee ligaments, ruling him out for another two months. United will hope they will still be in with a shout of finishing in the top four when he returns, as he will be crucial to getting them over the line.
Bruno Fernandes Manchester United 2023-24Getty Images
10Bruno Fernandes (6/10) ⬇️
The Portuguese has had a mixed campaign, receiving lots of criticism for his complaining and not delivering on the biggest occasions. But he has also bailed out United with some moments of brilliance, most notably against Burnley and Fulham.
He also showed some leadership by giving Rashford the penalty against Everton in a bid to lift his team-mate’s confidence when he could have taken it himself to boost his own goal tally. He still struggles for consistency, however, and has not scored in the Premier League since November.
Casemiro Manchester United 2023-24Getty Images
9Casemiro (6/10) ⬆️
The Brazilian’s sharp decline this season had been a huge concern for United, but since returning from almost three months out with a hamstring problem, he has improved significantly. The serial winner has benefitted from playing alongside the effervescent Mainoo and the the pair are learning off each other.
Casemiro was excellent against Wolves and West Ham, and did well at Aston Villa, providing a far stronger shield for the back four than before his injury and starting plenty attacks with his through-balls.
Andre Onana Manchester United 2023-24Getty
8Andre Onana (7/10) ⬆️
The Cameroon international was one of the most intriguing signings of the summer and was tasked with transforming United’s style of play after 12 years of David de Gea’s timid playing out from the back.
He had a disastrous start to life at Old Trafford, however, making huge errors against Bayern Munich and Galatasaray while showcasing sloppy goalkeeping against Brentford and Nottingham Forest, but has staged his own comeback lately.
Onana made a stunning save against West Ham and was one of the best performers in the vital win at Villa Park. He looks much closer to the imposing presence who took Inter to last season’s Champions League final, although he is still likely to give fans plenty of nervy moments in the final few months of the campaign.
Scott McTominay Man Utd 2023-24Getty
7Scott McTominay (7/10) ⬆️
The Scotland midfielder was used sparingly by Ten Hag until his heroic cameo against Brentford, when he scored twice in added-time to turn a disastrous defeat into an epic win. He has built on that stunning striking display to become United’s top scorer in the league and the joint-top scoring midfielder in the Premier League, despite only starting half of the matches.
McTominay bagged another brace in the win over Chelsea and has continued to be a super-sub for Ten Hag’s side, netting against Wolves and Villa after coming off the bench. His goals have proved highly useful, earning United 12 points, more than any other player in the league.
He might not be getting many starts compared to when he was the midfield anchor alongside Fred, but he fully has embraced the role of impact substitute and the team are all the richer for it.
Harry Maguire Manchester United 2023-24Getty Images
6Harry Maguire (7/10) ⬇️
After a summer move to West Ham fell through, the former captain was reduced to sitting on the bench and faced taunts from rival fans as well as a stream of abuse on social media. However, the injury to Martinez gave Maguire a new lease of life and he was a truly commanding presence between October and December, giving United much-needed stability at the back.
His turnaround has vindicated his decision to stay and fight for his place, although his progress was derailed by a five-week absence due to a groin strain. He has picked up where he left off since returning and is set to partner Varane until Martinez returns in April.
Raphael Varane applauds Manchester United Liverpool 2023-24Getty
5Raphael Varane (7/10) ⬆️
The Frenchman looked like United’s only reliable defender early in the season, making huge contributions against Wolves and Forest, but his injury problems came back to haunt him and he then lost his place in the side to Maguire, with Ten Hag making the strange argument that he did not want Varane to play at left centre-back as he is right-footed.
HBAgency
HBAgency
Varane seized the opportunity that Maguire’s injury presented in December and has been the team’s most consistent defender since.
Diogo Dalot Manchester United 2023-24Getty
4Diogo Dalot (8/10) ⬆️
The Portuguese has had an up-and-down campaign, but has really improved in recent weeks. He has turned into one of United’s most creative players, scoring the stunning winner at Sheffield United and an impressive strike at Wigan while setting up Garnacho’s awesome goal at Everton and providing a dream cross for McTominay at Villa.
He has also improved a lot defensively, making an astonishing slide tackle on Jarrod Bowen against West Ham and timing his challenges to perfection against Villa.
Kobbie Mainoo Manchester United 2023-24Getty
3Kobbie Mainoo (8/10) ⬆️
Mainoo was set for a big role in Ten Hag’s side after a hugely impressive pre-season campaign, but he had the misfortune to suffer a freak ankle injury against Real Madrid in the United States.
Almost four months later, the 18-year-old finally made his full Premier League debut against Everton and it was more than worth the wait. He has grown in stature and confidence since, locking down his place in Ten Hag’s starting XI lately.
He has also discovered his goalscoring touch, netting in successive games at Newport and Wolves. He looks set to be a transformative player for United who could quite feasibly run their midfield for the next decade, if not longer.
Hojlund Manchester UnitedGetty
2Rasmus Hojlund (9/10) ⬆️
Hojlund had to wait a long, long time to score his first Premier League goal, but since finally breaking his domestic duck against Villa on Boxing Day, he cannot stop scoring. The Danish international has netted in his last five Premier League matches, becoming the youngest player since Nicolas Anelka to do so.
The Dane’s £72m ($89m) price-tag certainly raised eyebrows, but he is now living up to the hype his move from Atalanta generated and matching his impressive record in the Champions League by scoring regularly in England.
Hojlund has also worked up a strong relationship with fellow youngsters Mainoo and Garnacho, which could propel United to truly great things in the future.
Garnacho-Man-UtdGetty
1Alejandro Garnacho (9/10) ⬆️
The Argentine has emphatically answered any questions about his maturity and his ability within the last three months by developing into not only a regular starter, but one of United’s most dangerous players.
Garnacho’s outlandish bicycle kick against Everton made headlines around the world, while he was decisive in the home comeback over Villa and the win over West Ham. The winger has also made huge improvements in his defensive work and his movement off the ball, becoming a highly-valuable team player as well as an extraordinary-talented individual.
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