A campaign marred by injuries saw the club finish eighth in the Premier League with a negative goal difference, their worst position since 1989–90.[1] United were knocked out of the EFL Cup in the fourth round by their opponents from the previous season's final, Newcastle United, and also recorded their worst-ever performance in the Champions League group stage, finishing bottom of their group with just four points. Despite this, they excelled in the FA Cup, reaching the final for the second successive season where they faced cross-city rivals Manchester City in a repeat of the previous year's showpiece. In a match where they were seen as underdogs, Manchester United won 2–1.
This was the first season since 2010–11 without goalkeeper David de Gea and defender Phil Jones, who left the club when their contracts expired. With the departures of De Gea and Jones, United were initially without a Premier League winner in their squad for the first time since the competition's inaugural season in 1992–93, as well as without a player who played under Alex Ferguson for the first time since 1974;[2] however, the re-signing of Jonny Evans, who won three Premier League titles with the club between 2006 and 2015, meant that was no longer the case.[3]
On 24 December 2023, Manchester United announced that the club had agreed a deal with Sir Jim Ratcliffe to buy a 25% stake in the club.[4] In February 2024, it was announced that the investment had been completed, with Trawlers Ltd acquiring a 27.7% share in the club.[5]
Pre-season and friendlies
On 27 March 2023, United announced a tour of the United States, with friendly matches against Wrexham – who are co-owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney and who also had former United goalkeeper Ben Foster in their squad – in San Diego,[6] and Borussia Dortmund in Las Vegas.[7] On 12 May, the club announced their third and fourth pre-season friendlies in the US against fierce rivalsArsenal in New York City,[8] and in Houston against Real Madrid, which will be played one day after Wrexham game.[9] A fifth friendly, the first based in the UK, against Lyon in Edinburgh was also added to the pre-season calendar.[10] On 25 May, the club announced a friendly against Roses rivals and EFL Championship club Leeds United in Oslo.[11] A seventh match, against Athletic Bilbao in Dublin, was announced on 13 June.[12] On 29 June, the club announced a home friendly against French club Lens, to be played the day before the match against Athletic Bilbao.[13]
United won their first match of pre-season against Leeds 2–0, thanks to second-half goals from substitutes Noam Emeran and Joe Hugill,[14] while Donny van de Beek's goal against Lyon gave them their second win in Edinburgh.[15] In the first game of the United States tour, first-half goals from newly appointed captain Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho gave United a 2–0 win over Arsenal; they also won the post-match exhibition penalty shoot-out 5–3.[16] With their match against Real Madrid scheduled for Houston the next day, United fielded a team made up largely of under-21 players against Wrexham on 25 July. They went 2–0 down in the first half, though Marc Jurado pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time; however, Dan Gore was sent off early in the second half and a third Wrexham goal completed a 3–1 defeat for United.[17] They then suffered a second loss in as many days when goals from Jude Bellingham and Joselu gave Real Madrid a 2–0 win in Houston; newly signed goalkeeper André Onana made his debut in the game, playing the full 90 minutes.[18] Manchester United's tour of the United States ended with a 3–2 defeat against Borussia Dortmund at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on 31 July. Diogo Dalot put United ahead in the 24th minute, but Donyell Malen scored twice in two minutes just before half-time to give Dortmund the lead. Antony levelled the scores before Youssoufa Moukoko secured the win for the Germans.[19]
The Reds returned to winning ways with a 3–1 comeback win over Lens at Old Trafford. Florian Sotoca put the visitors ahead after chipping Onana from the edge of the centre circle in the first half, before Marcus Rashford, Antony and Casemiro scored in the second period to turn the game around for United.[20] The following day, a second string United side drew 1–1 with Athletic Bilbao in Dublin. The La Liga team scored first through Nico Williams, but an added time equaliser from Facundo Pellistri meant that United ended their pre-season campaign with a draw.[21]
The league season began with a home win against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 14 August. After a scoreless first half, Raphaël Varane scored the game's only goal with a 76th-minute header. Named in the starting line-up, Mason Mount and André Onana made their debuts for United.[23] Five days later, United suffered an away defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. Pape Matar Sarr opened the scoring for the home side in the 49th minute, and an own goal from Lisandro Martínez doubled their lead seven minutes from the end.[24] United then hosted Nottingham Forest the following weekend, coming into the match on a 30-game unbeaten run at home; however, that streak was put in jeopardy as United conceded two goals in the opening five minutes. Christian Eriksen pulled one back in the first half, before Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes secured the comeback win with a goal each either side of a second-half red card for Forest's Joe Worrall.[25]
The month of September started with a loss away to Arsenal. Marcus Rashford struck first, but Martin Ødegaard levelled the score 35 seconds after restart of the game. In the second half, a VAR check saw an Arsenal penalty claim overturned and another check led to an effort by Alejandro Garnacho being ruled out as offside. The Gunners then struck twice in injury time to win the match.[26] Following an international break,[27] United hosted Brighton & Hove Albion; their 31-game unbeaten run at home ended with former United player Danny Welbeck scoring the opening goal. In the second half, Brighton scored two more goals, though substitute Hannibal Mejbri scored a consolation goal in the 73rd-minute from outside the box, marking his first goal of the season. The Red Devils would then win against Burnley away the following weekend, Bruno Fernandes scoring the only goal with a 45th-minute volley that would later win Premier League Goal of the Month. The month of September closed with a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at home, marking back-to-back defeats at home for the Reds.
Manchester United would host Brentford at home to kick off October, where Mathias Jensen's first-half effort for the Bees saw them lead 1-0, threatening to make it United's third consecutive loss at home for the first time since the 1978-79 season.[28] However, with three minutes of stoppage-time left, Scott McTominay was brought on and scored two goals within three minutes, salvaging a win for the Reds. Two weeks later United travelled to Sheffield United, wearing black armbands in remembrance of Sir Bobby Charlton, following the earlier news of his passing. Scott McTominay opened the scoring in the first half, but the home-team quickly responded via a penalty from Oli McBurnie. With the scoreline level until the 77th-minute, Diogo Dalot fired home his first goal of the season beyond the penalty area to win the match. The month closed with United hosting rivalsManchester City; Erling Haaland put City ahead with a penalty in the first half after Rasmus Højlund was penalised for dragging down Rodri inside the box. After Onana saved a far-post header from Haaland, a near-identical play saw Haaland double City's lead before half-time courtesy of a cross from Bernardo Silva. In the 86th minute, Phil Foden scored the third goal, cementing a 3-0 defeat for United.
Source: Premier League Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) If the champions, relegated teams or qualified teams for UEFA competitions cannot be determined by rules 1 to 3, rules 4.1 to 4.3 are applied – 4.1) Points gained in head-to-head record between such teams; 4.2) Away goals scored in head-to-head record between such teams; 4.3) Play-offs[29] Notes:
^Since the winners of the 2023–24 EFL Cup, Liverpool, qualified for the Champions League, the spot given to the League Cup winners (Conference League play-off round) was passed to the sixth-placed team.
^Manchester United qualified for the Europa League league phase as the 2023–24 FA Cup winners.
FA Cup
As a Premier League side, United entered the 2023–24 FA Cup in the third round and were drawn away to Wigan Athletic,[30] with the match to be played on 8 January 2024.[31] United won 2–0 thanks to a long-range strike from Diogo Dalot in the first half, followed by a Bruno Fernandes penalty. They were then drawn against either Newport County or Eastleigh in the fourth round.[32][33] Newport were confirmed as their opponents when they beat Eastleigh 3–1 in a replay on 16 January 2024.[34] On 28 January, United won at Rodney Parade 4–2 courtesy of goals from Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Antony and Rasmus Højlund.[35] On the same day, Bristol City or Nottingham Forest were drawn as their next opponents, with the match taking place on 28 February.[36] On 7 February, Nottingham Forest were confirmed as United's next opponents thanks to their 5–3 win on penalties.[37] United won at City Ground 1–0 thanks to a late effort from Casemiro.[38]
With Liverpool's 3–0 win over Southampton in the fifth round, United were drawn against their rivals in the quarter-finals.[39] The tie was played on 17 March. United took an early lead thanks to Scott McTominay, but going into half time, goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah saw Liverpool take a 2–1 lead. Antony scored a late equaliser to take the match into extra time, although Rashford missed the chance to score an injury-time winner. Near the end of the first half of extra time, Harvey Elliott gave Liverpool the lead, but in the second half, Rashford equalised to make the score 3–3. In injury time, Amad Diallo scored the winning goal, and was sent off for taking his shirt off in the celebrations as he was given a yellow card prior to scoring.[40]
United were drawn against Coventry City in the semi-finals. They faced each other at Wembley Stadium on 21 April, with United winning 4-2 on penalties after giving up a 3–0 lead in the second thanks to Coventry striker Haji Wright's equalizer in stoppage time of the second half.
^Garnacho played with shirt number 49 in August 2023 matches.[46][47]
^Reported as £55 million, plus £5 million in add-ons[48]
^Evans signed for Manchester United on a short-term contract of unspecified length on 18 July. On 1 September, he signed a one-year contract with the club.[50]
