The 13 players for Manchester United to rebuild their squad around in the transfer window

Before the FA Cup final, Erik ten Hag was so fixated on his only victory over Pep Guardiola he repeatedly claimed Manchester United's 2-1 defeat of City in January 2023 was the only occasion he was able to pick his strongest side. It wasn't.

Diogo Dalot was absent with a hamstring injury, Tyrell Malacia started at left back and Luke Shaw at centre back while Lisandro Martinez, still recovering from his World Cup excursions, was on the bench. Ten Hag was possibly mistaken as it was the first time he was able to start Anthony Martial against elite opposition. Martial lasted a half.

It was only when a journalist highlighted the squad selections in a piece that Ten Hag was advised to stop referring to the derby. It was in his interests as the two games he had his best players available for were more recent.

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United plundered seven goals in their wins against Wolves and West Ham in February. They made needlessly hard work of it at Molineux, the scene of their best 45 minutes until the Cup final. United were 3-1 up in the 84th minute but squandered the two-goal advantage before Kobbie Mainoo's magisterial 97th-minute winner.

Three days later, Ten Hag rested Raphael Varane and recalled Harry Maguire for the only change against West Ham. David Moyes's side had ten more attempts at goal than United and Moyes opined West Ham were better than when they won the reverse fixture in December. The 3-0 victory flattered United but they were uncharacteristically clinical.

The money shot was of Alejandro Garnacho's celebration after his first goal. Garnacho's apparent send-up of the West Ham winger Mohammed