Manchester United have all but achieved their target of a top four finish, with their win over Aston Villa at the weekend moving them eight points clear of fifth placed Liverpool.
It is not the kind of success United fans have become accustomed to over recent years, but for now it will do nicely.
Last season saw the Red Devils miss out on the Champions League for the first time this century under the stewardship of David Moyes, and at points this season it has looked as though a similar fate may strike once again.
But Louis van Gaal has got his side playing at their best at exactly the right time, with consecutive victories over Tottenham, Liverpool and Aston Villa all but ensuring they will be back amongst Europe’s elite for next season.
With their prime objective all but achieved, what have we learnt about United this season? Here we have identified a top five.
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Click on van Gaal and Giggs to reveal the top 5 ‘things we’ve learnt’ from Manchester United’s season
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Van Gaal has managed to blag it
Having spent more money than any manager in the country, LVG still had an identical record to David Moyes in early January.
Anybody who spends close to £150million in a transfer window should surely be challenging for the title, but it seemed as though van Gaal thought a top four challenge playing dull one dimensional football would suffice for his first season.
It has only been in the last three games that United have looked a genuine top four side. Van Gaal will finish in the Champions League places and be handed even more money to rebuild in the summer. His reputation as a tactical genius will remain in tact, despite the fact his side have been the best of a poor bunch challenging for the top four this season (Liverpool, Tottenham and Southampton have been their biggest challengers) despite playing the poorest brand of football with the most resources available.
Fellaini is actually quite good
The Belgian was the unfortunate scapegoat during the ill-fated Moyes era, but he has turned things around in the absence of the Scot this term.
Van Gaal to his credit has simply used Fellaini in his best position – that advanced midfield role – often at the expense of more expensive (just about) and typically talented players – the likes of Juan Mata and Angel Di Maria.
Yet Fellaini’s phsycial presence has caused genuine problems this season, and he has chipped in with some important goals himself.
His displays in those crucial back-to-back wins over Tottenham and Liverpool highlighted just how important he has become at Old Trafford – quite the turnaround for the man who was branded a £27million flop 12 months ago.
Januzaj isn’t as good as the hype suggested
Manchester United fans spent much of last season boasting about the fact they had the ‘world’s best young player’ on their books, with Adnan Januzaj the bright beacon of hope in what was fast descending into a nightmare season.
The teenage playmaker has hardly progressed this season, and has in fact gone backwards. The fact he has picked up more yellow cards for diving than he has managed goals or assists this term says it all.
It will be interesting to see what happens to him in the summer, whether a loan move or a permanent transfer is in order for him to rediscover the sort of form that saw him touted as the next big thing.
Wayne Rooney is best as a central striker
It’s a debate that seems to have been going on since the beginning of time. Where is Wayne Rooney’s best position?
Anyone still wondering need simply to look at United’s last three games, with the United and England captain deployed as a central striker in the absence of the injured Robin van Persie.
Rooney is best leading the line, and should be chosen ahead of both the Dutchman and the most overpaid man in the country – Radamel Falcao.
Rooney has improved as the season has gone on, in what has been his first campaign as Manchester United captain.
It would be nice to see him given a whole campaign in which to lead the line next term. Whether that will happen, is another matter.
David De Gea has been their star man – again
Would United be in the top four without David De Gea?
When you consider the struggles Liverpool (their nearest challengers) have had with their goalkeeper Simon Mignolet this season, you could argue possibly not.
De Gea has been outstanding once again this season, and is again the leading candidate to be named United’s player of the season.
You can point to the victories over Everton, Liverpool (at Old Trafford) and Arsenal as proof of just how important the Spaniard has been this term. Saves in those matches all but earnt United nine points, and looks set to prove the difference in Champions League qualification come May.
Now all United need to do is hold onto him when Real Madrid come calling in the summer.
