Erik ten Hag's Manchester United fate could already rest on two factors

Twenty-four hours after an underwhelming Europa League schedule was confirmed for Manchester United, they had to face up the prospect of another season threatening to unravel. This wasn't how it was supposed to be.

While Manchester City look forward to fixtures against Inter, Juventus and PSG and Liverpool face AC Milan and Real Madrid, United's most enticing European fixtures are a battle of Britain against Rangers and a Jose Mourinho reunion in Istanbul.

A season of traipsing around Europe's minor leagues was to be an inconvenience for Ineos on their path to restoring United's lustre. On Sunday night, as Sir Jim Ratcliffe put his head in his hands in the directors' box, they saw just how distant the gap remains to the very best the Premier League has to offer.

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When Ratcliffe's £1.25bn investment into United was confirmed last February, he mentioned qualification for the Champions League for this season as a short-term target, while focusing on the long-term aim of "getting Manchester United to where we would like to get it."

Missing out on the Champions League places by eight points wasn't considered enough to dispense with the services of Erik ten Hag, who saved his job by winning the FA Cup final. A cup alone won't keep him in that gig this season.

As United battle with financial fair play rules, not to mention a dwindling reputation as a European superpower, they can't afford another season outside of Europe's elite. This season might only be three games old, but it already looks like City, Liverpool and Arsenal