As Manchester United’s gamers trailed up the Wembley steps on their stroll of woe to obtain their FA Cup runners-up medals on Saturday, the gloating followers of their metropolis rivals uncharitably rubbed salt into their wounds.

The chants from a half-full sky blue stadium alerting them to the truth that they aren’t notably good they usually know they're - or phrases to that impact - lacked class and neglected United’s enchancment below Erik ten Hag however underlined that to compete on the identical stage a considerable hole nonetheless needs to be closed.

United did beat City within the league at Old Trafford in January - and made them sweat for the second leg of the treble in a frenetic finale at Wembley - however the total comparability stays unflattering.

Phase certainly one of United’s rebuild below the decided Dutchman has served to point out how a lot work there may be to do in part two.

“I have my ideas and I already told the club what we have to do for that but I have to work with my staff, with my players to be better next season,” mentioned Ten Hag afterwards.

“We are in the right direction but there are occasions in the game, issues in the game, we have to improve, definitely, if we want to make the next step and win trophies.”

The pile of rubble that Ten Hag inherited has a discernible construction now however United stay hamstrung in vital areas.

David De Gea can nonetheless be a effective shot-stopper - though he wasn’t for Ilkay Gundogan’s match-winner at Wembley - however United won't ever construct something coherent from the again together with his cement toes.

Up entrance Marcus Rashford has contributed 30 objectives this season however the subsequent highest scorer is Bruno Fernandes with 14.

They want a prime striker too.

Throw within the long-standing requirement for an improve on Fred in midfield and the summer season buying record for United earlier than they return to motion for a pre-season pleasant towards Lyon at Murrayfield on July 19 is an costly one.

There are potential treatments on the market - Harry Kane, Declan Rice and David Raya amongst them - however United must break the financial institution to make them occur which makes their clear-as-mud takeover image a possible handicap.

Avram Glazer was at Wembley on the weekend; whether or not his household will nonetheless be accountable for United subsequent season stays to be seen.

Investment is a part of the image. Success doesn't come cheaply. City’s internet spend since their takeover by Sheikh Mansour in 2008 stands at £1.26bn.

Over the identical interval the determine for United, for all of the criticism of the Glazers, stands at a hefty £1.1bn however the secret is spending properly in addition to spending massive.

United haven't all the time hit the board, by no means thoughts the bullseye with their recruitment.

Jadon Sancho, as an illustration, has not appeared like a £73m participant this season. He definitely didn’t at Wembley on Saturday.

Nor has Antony - an damage absentee for the cup ultimate - lived as much as his £85m price ticket since his arrival from Ajax.

As for £80m Harry Maguire - his place as a membership captain not trusted to begin any sport of significance by his supervisor absolutely makes his future at Old Trafford untenable.

What with the choice to make over Mason Greenwood, these promise to be a major few months for United.