The Reds enter a fresh campaign as a Champions League club once more and the current holders of the Carabao Cup.

There are now just 50 days until our Premier League curtain raiser against Wolves on Monday 14 August, and anticipation for the new season is already starting to build.

Will Erik ten Hag achieve further success in his second season, or will 2023/24 perhaps present an opportunity for the likes of Alejandro Garnacho to really kick on?

What's for sure is that there are plenty of new elements that have the potential to make next season one of the Reds' most exciting yet...

SECOND SEASON FOR ERIK

Ten Hag's first campaign in charge of United couldn't really have gone any better. Taking over a side who had just finished sixth in the top-flight and been eliminated from cup competitions by the likes of Championship team Middlesbrough, at Old Trafford, not many could have foreseen the transformation under the Dutchman.

The Reds finished 2022/23 as the winners of the Carabao Cup and with one of the best defensive records in the league, being beaten only once at Old Trafford in the division. 2023/24 represents a key opportunity for Erik to achieve even more as boss.

A CHANCE TO KICK ON?

Last season, Erik brought five new permanent signings into the club, and next term is an opportunity for them to develop further. Antony, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Tyrell Malacia and Lisandro Martinez have all become key members of Ten Hag's squad, but with Licha nearing a return from injury and the other four players set to play big roles once more, 2023/24 is certainly exciting.

In addition to new signings, Alejandro Garnacho was handed his senior debut under Erik last season and will no doubt be keen to continue his own development. The winger signed a new contract in April and will be striving to become a regular starter next term.

THREE FRESH OPPONENTS

Burnley, Luton Town and Sheffield United earned promotion to the Premier League for 2023/24, meaning there are three new teams that Erik must prepare for. It is Luton's first season in the Premier League in their history, while Burnley and Sheffield United have recently been present in the division. They will hope to preserve their Premier League status this time round.

A NEW AWAY GROUND

Luton's home stadium, Kenilworth Road, is one that the Reds have not visited in the Premier League era. We did make the trip to Bedford in 2020, for a 3-0 Carabao Cup third-round win, but have not played a domestic match there since April 1992, the season that the Hatters were relegated from Division One.

It's an intriguing one for our supporters, too, as our away clash against Luton presents a new trip that a lot of our fans may not have ever made.

RETURNING TO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

After one year away, United will be playing Champions League football once more under the lights at Old Trafford in 2023/24. Supporters will have missed the goosebumps of hearing the iconic theme of Europe's top competition belting out of the speakers in M16, and will be afforded that luxury once more next term.

The atmosphere created at some Europa League games in 2022/23 was sublime, especially that play-off win over Barcelona - the roof almost came off! But there's something different about the Champions League, and the opportunity to test himself against the very best is something I'm sure Ten Hag will relish.

NO MID-SEASON BREAK

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar disrupted United's fixture list last year and resulted in a winter break where some players were out in the Middle-East while others went away on mid-season training camps. United took a youthful squad to Spain for this period.

This extended the season considerably and meant that after the turn of the year, the Reds barely had a midweek free. The lack of a break - save for international fixtures and the planned Premier League pause in January - should help Ten Hag keep his players fresh, which will only aid our chances of doing even better than last year.

The opinions in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Manchester United Football Club.