Why are Man United having a record bad season and what does it mean for Erik ten Hag?

With only four games left, Manchester United at least looked on course to salvage their forgettable season by securing Europa League football for 2024/25.

Sixth in the Premier League table, one point ahead of Newcastle United in seventh and three clear of eighth-placed Chelsea, United were in control of their own destiny. They even had the insurance policy of an FA Cup final; beat Manchester City and qualify for Europe's second-tier competition, or lose and gain access via a league position anyway.

Fast forward to the present day heading into the penultimate round of fixtures on Wednesday, the scene is far bleaker for Erik ten Hag and his team.

A 1-1 draw at Old Trafford to now-relegated Burnley, followed by a 4-0 thumping at Crystal Palace and Sunday's 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal – combined with resurgent Chelsea's three straight wins – have seen United slide down the standings to eighth, their patchy campaign completely unravelling.

Now the FA Cup final insurance policy has become a must-win game, both for their hopes of playing European football next season, and most likely Ten Hag's job security.

It marks an extraordinary decline in the space of just one season. This time last year, United had won the League Cup, were about to finish third in the Premier League and also had an FA Cup final on the horizon.

What has gone so horribly wrong so quickly? And with a new ownership structure in place, what does this mean for the future of the team and its manager?

The stats make for grim reading. United have conceded 82 goals in all competitions this season – their worst defensive return since 1970/71 when they also conceded 82. That is a dramatic collapse compared to last season's stability when David de Gea's 17 clean sheets