In many ways, Manchester United’s season ended on a fitting note.

The 2-1 defeat to Sevilla in the UEFA Europa League semi-final will bring up conflicting emotions for many.

The promise of the overall performance and the number and quality of chances created, plagued by the inability to make them count, the lack of depth and questionable defending when it counted most.

Much like this roller-coaster 90 minutes, there was plenty to like about United over the course of the season, but not enough to cover up the fatal flaws that exist.

Still, no matter which way you slice it, 2020/21 has been a season of considerable, if not remarkable improvement.

In his first full season as the club’s permanent manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gets a solid pass mark. Maybe even an A-.

He managed to improve the squad, has overseen without a shadow of any doubt United’s most aesthetically pleasing football since Sir Alex Ferguson, has helped a number of individual players take some huge steps in terms of their personal development. 

He has been rewarded for all of that with United’s best run of form in the post-Sir Alex era.

To finish the season in third in the Premier League and make three semi-finals is both a sign that Solskjaer has the club moving in the right direction and the gap that still needs to be bridged.

Solskjaer has set an important marker in his first campaign, and it is only fair to expect that after such steady strides forward with such a young team, that the club legend can take it to another level again next season.

With just a month to prepare, Solskjaer needs to be backed by the board to bring in the players he needs.

The defeat in Germany to Sevilla should leave no doubts that despite the enormous amounts spent on the defence in recent years, significant investment is once again required.

Any question over the added quality Harry Maguire has bought to the first team is purely attributable to the fee paid for him.

While he has his off moments, he did a remarkable job of strengthening a defence that lacked leadership and direction.

Neither Victor Lindelof nor Eric Bailly proved themselves reliable or worthy partners of the England international and with such young full-backs in Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Brandon Williams either side of him, Maguire lacks a lot of support.

Chris Smalling’s excellent form for Roma while on loan has made him a candidate to reclaim his spot in the heart of United’s defence alongside Maguire.

Honestly, that feels like Glazernomics at work.

While a United’s pursuit of Jadon Sancho hogs the headlines – it is in defence where the most significant investment is required.

That’s not to say the club should not just do what needs to be done to sign Sancho.

Solskjaer’s reluctance to make changes in the loss against Sevilla betrays his lack of confidence in Daniel James and Odion Ighalo to make a difference when it counts.

It’s hard to blame him either.

Ighalo was an excellent stop-gap signing, particularly in the context of Marcus Rashford’s back injury before the coronavirus disruption, but he’s not a long-term solution.

James has admirable qualities, but he is nowhere near first-team quality.

Sancho would provide some much-needed quality and depth in the final third.

The protracted saga to bring Bruno Fernandes to United that took half a season for no difference in price was a waste of time and opportunity for all involved.

One wonders what United’s season might have looked like had the brilliant Portuguese midfielder been signed before the season started.

If Solskjaer wants Sancho, then the board should just do what needs to be done to make the deal happen.

The question of money will, no doubt, be at the forefront of the board’s mind.

One way to fund the investment required would be to sell Paul Pogba.

His performance against Sevilla was indifferent at best, and while there is no doubting the Frenchman is world class on his day – and no doubt would be a good player for whoever picks him up – his disinterest remains palpable.

Solskjaer needs to work out if Pogba is committed early on in this drastically shortened off-season and move him on if he isn’t.

Of course, selling Pogba would present a problem in its own, as there would certainly need to be a replacement signed.

With just a month to go until the Premier League starts again, time is of the essence for Solskjaer.

As United moves across this rickety suspension bridge from one season to the next, this feel like a tipping point for United.

At the other end, the possibility of a genuine Premier League title challenge seems attainable in 2021/22.

However, United must move quickly and strategically to get there if they want to avoid falling over the side and letting this opportunity slip.