There is a big difference between 2nd and challenging for the title compared to 2nd and trying to be best of the rest. The former is clear progress, the latter much less so. We will need a trophy this season - in what is Ole's 2nd full season and Bruno's 1st full season at United - to show for the progress this season (although deep cup runs are greatly influenced by luck in the draws).
Our transfer activity in the summer will also reveal how players and the external market view our progress, if any. To me, if the big targets want to come here (over other clubs), if Pogba wants to stay (despite what his agent said) and if the club invests in said top targets, then I think it's because they see the trajectory we are on and want to be part of it.
Let's hope for a strong end to the business end of this season.