Coming up on a decade since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, it has been noted time and again around the world how the club’s status as one of the world’s best has fallen over the 10 years since. Even with Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho winning notable cup competitions, it’s been a painful admission for fans that United is no longer the standard that English clubs look up to.

So the bar wasn’t exactly high when Erik ten Hag took over for 2022-23, especially considering how United limped to the finish line in 2021-22, throwing away a chance at the Champions League. And it didn’t start any better with disappointing performances in losses to Brighton and Brentford. But slowly, ten Hag’s guidance helped United establish momentum, mostly undisturbed through 2022 even with two lengthy breaks (one following the death of Queen Elizabeth II and another for the World Cup).

But the last two months demonstrate perfectly how far United still have to go.

The club entered March flying high after a Europa League knockout round win over Barcelona and a triumph in the League Cup, their first silverware of any kind in six seasons. But a 7-0 defeat at Liverpool was the first example of “coming back to Earth” that has stayed with them in April. United were considered the favorites to win among the Europa League quarterfinalists, and looked the part through the first half of the first leg; however, a late collapse allowing Sevilla to draw was followed by a comprehensive second-leg win for the Spanish team. How Sevilla scored their first and third goals Thursday, in particular, shows how off United were on the night.

So all is not lost for Manchester United entering the homestretch of 2022-23. As of Friday the Red Devils are third in the Premier League, six points ahead of fifth-place Tottenham with a game in hand (two games after this weekend). MUFC still has the chance for more silverware in the FA Cup, with a semifinal against Brighton awaiting. But ten Hag’s job is far from done, and it’s not without saying that the wheels could fall off in a manner similar to last season. If United do end up in the third-tier Europa Conference League next season, it will be yet another massive blow to a club once regarded on a regular basis as among the world’s elite.

If this is the new normal for Manchester United, it still remains a bitter pill for supporters.