'The best thing that has happened today is the season has finished... it has been horrible, a very bad season in all ways.'
David de Gea's words neatly summed up the feelings of most Manchester United fans as a torturous campaign finally drew to a close on Sunday with a wholly predictable 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace.
But for Erik ten Hag, sat in the stands at Selhurst Park to watch his new team in person for the first time, the hard work is only just getting started. And, boy, is there a lot of hard work ahead.