McTominay’s Place in Doubt as Manchester United’s Season Ends with FA Cup Final Looming
Manchester United’s Premier League campaign has finally drawn to a close, bringing an end to what has been a turbulent and testing season for Erik ten Hag and his squad. The Dutch manager has faced countless challenges, battling through injuries, inconsistency, and mounting pressure, but his side ultimately fell short of expectations.
Despite flashes of promise, United’s league journey ended in disappointment. The Red Devils currently sit eighth with 60 points—eight shy of the top four and a staggering 31 points behind their city rivals, Manchester City. The focus now shifts to the upcoming FA Cup final at Wembley, where a win over City could inject some much-needed positivity into what has been a frustrating campaign.
Questions about Ten Hag’s future continue to swirl, with many fans and pundits divided over whether he should remain in charge. Some argue that INEOS, the club’s new part-owners, should be given time to reshape the team before making any drastic decisions. After all, years of heavy spending have yet to produce the desired transformation, and one summer transfer window won’t fix everything. Still, a fresh start under new leadership may spark the improvement United desperately need.
Before that can happen, though, Ten Hag must get his Wembley lineup right—and one name that might need to be left out is Scott McTominay.
The Scottish midfielder has endured a season filled with highs and lows, reflecting the inconsistency of the team as a whole. Linked with a move to West Ham last summer, McTominay instead stayed put and managed to contribute 10 goals in 42 appearances—a respectable return for a player who’s often been deployed in varying roles. Yet, despite his scoring touch, his overall influence in midfield has been erratic.
In United’s 2-0 victory over Brighton, McTominay struggled to make any real impact. Popular club analyst Mark Goldbridge was quick to point out that he “offered nothing” in the middle of the park—a harsh but not entirely unfounded criticism. The 27-year-old missed a golden opportunity in the first half after a precise setup from Bruno Fernandes, failing to control the ball before blasting his shot well over the bar from close range.
That missed chance summed up his day. According to Manchester Evening News reporter Samuel Luckhurst, who rated him 5/10, McTominay’s outing was marked by a “wasted” opportunity in front of goal. The statistics back it up: only 36 touches throughout the entire match—17 fewer than goalkeeper Andre Onana—along with no key passes, no dribbles, no interceptions, and just one tackle. Though his 88% pass accuracy was tidy, it was largely ineffective.
With the FA Cup final looming, Ten Hag faces a crucial decision. Young striker Rasmus Hojlund made an instant impact off the bench and could push for a starting spot, while the manager will also be reluctant to leave out Marcus Rashford on such a big occasion. There’s even speculation that Casemiro might be moved into a more advanced role again.
As it stands, McTominay’s place in the starting lineup looks far from certain. His latest performance did little to strengthen his case—and if Ten Hag wants to maximize United’s chances at Wembley, he may need to make the tough call to leave the Scot out.
