As Manchester United’s players trailed up the Wembley steps on their walk of woe to receive their FA Cup runners-up medals on Saturday, the gloating fans of their city rivals uncharitably rubbed salt into their wounds.
The chants from a half-full sky blue stadium alerting them to the fact that they aren’t particularly good and they know they are – or words to that effect – lacked class and overlooked United’s improvement under Erik ten Hag but underlined that to compete on the same level a substantial gap still has to be closed.
United did beat City in the league at Old Trafford in January – and made them sweat for the second leg of the treble in a frenetic finale at Wembley – but the overall comparison remains unflattering.
Phase one of United’s rebuild under the determined Dutchman has served to show how much work there is to do in phase 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,” said 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 structure now but United remain hamstrung in important areas.
David De Gea can still be a fine shot-stopper – although he wasn’t for Ilkay Gundogan’s match-winner at Wembley – but United will never build anything coherent from the back with his cement feet.
Up front Marcus Rashford has contributed 30 goals this season but the next highest scorer is Bruno Fernandes with 14.
They need a top striker too.
Throw in the long-standing requirement for an upgrade on Fred in midfield and the summer shopping list for United before they return to action for a pre-season friendly against Lyon at Murrayfield on July 19 is an expensive one.
There are potential remedies out there – Harry Kane, Declan Rice and David Raya amongst them – but United will have to break the bank to make them happen which makes their clear-as-mud takeover picture a potential handicap.
Avram Glazer was at Wembley at the weekend; whether his family will still be in control of United next season remains to be seen.
Investment is part of the picture. Success does not come cheaply. City’s net spend since their takeover by Sheikh Mansour in 2008 stands at £1.26bn.
Over the same period the figure for United, for all the criticism of the Glazers, stands at a hefty £1.1bn but the key is spending wisely as well as spending big.
United have not always hit the board, never mind the bullseye with their recruitment.
Jadon Sancho, for instance, has not looked like a £73m player this season. He certainly didn’t at Wembley on Saturday.
Nor has Antony – an injury absentee for the cup final – lived up to his £85m price tag since his arrival from Ajax.
As for £80m Harry Maguire – his position as a club captain not trusted to start any game of significance by his manager surely makes his future at Old Trafford untenable.
What with the decision to make over Mason Greenwood, these promise to be a significant few months for United.
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