Why Erik ten Hag's new Manchester United target has never been more within reach

For Manchester United supporters, the past few weeks have been difficult.

The Reds secured Champions League football with a third place finish in the Premier League, having lifted the Carabao Cup in February. But they have had to watch city rivals Manchester City emulate the famous United class of '99 in lifting a Treble.

Pep Guardiola's side wrapped up their third successive top flight crown with three matches to spare and then beat United 2-1 in the FA Cup final. A 1-0 win over Inter Milan on Saturday added a first Champions League trophy to the honours list and completed a dream season for those in blue.

United remain behind their noisy neighbours but this campaign has been one of progress and there is a belief that under Erik ten Hag the club can restore former glories and challenge at home and abroad. It will take a successful summer, both on and off the pitch, but the 2023-24 campaign could offer something of a perfect storm for the Reds to bridge the gap.

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"We don't want to stay here; we want to go higher up," said Ten Hag, when discussing next season's aims. "We want to increase our levels and compete for the top two. We have to demand more and increase our levels."

City have reached an incredible high, and the challenge for Guardiola and Co is to hit those heights once again. But a lengthy campaign, extended by a mid-season World Cup, with so much riding on matches in the second half of the season will have taken a physical and mental toll.

Guardiola's side must now go again, it's what made United so impressive under Sir Alex Ferguson, but it is not an easy task. No team has ever won England's top flight four years running while only Real Madrid