MU recreates a sad record after 44 years and echoes of history

MU will only participate in up to 40 games this season across all tournaments, after losing 1-2 to Brighton at Old Trafford in the FA Cup third round. That loss led to the Red Devils being knocked out of both domestic cups at their initial appearances, a situation unseen since 1981/82.

With no European competition this season, MU now relies solely on domestic tournaments, with their most realistic aim being to qualify for European cups. Still, the overall outlook remains bleak: after dismissing Ruben Amorim, the situation has not improved under the stewardship of interim coach Darren Fletcher. Whoever is appointed to lead the team until the end of the season will face an extremely challenging task.

Previously, MU started their domestic cup journey with another shock, being eliminated by fourth-tier Grimsby in the Carabao Cup. Following that, the defeat to Brighton in the FA Cup confirmed for the first time in 44 years that they exited both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup in their opening matches.

By convention, a Premier League club plays at least 40 matches each season: 38 Premier League rounds plus at least one match in each of the two domestic cups. MU’s stop at 40 matches indicates a significantly shortened season. They are also the first Premier League team to play only 40 matches across all competitions since Newcastle in 2022 (who finished 11th). Opta’s statistics show that teams playing only 40 matches typically end up mid-table or lower, with the rare exception of Tottenham finishing 5th in 2006.

According to Opta

From now until the end of the season, MU has almost nothing left to hold onto except pride and the race for a European spot. Their current form raises concerns further, as the Red Devils have won only 1 out of their last 7 matches, with the sole victory coming against Newcastle on December 26.

Amid MU’s search for a temporary solution, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick are mentioned as the two leading candidates. Whoever takes charge at Old Trafford will face the same challenge: salvaging something positive from an increasingly difficult 2025/26 season.

In the 2014/15 season, MU played 44 matches and finished fourth. That was the first season they ended without a trophy since 2004/05, but given the current circumstances, many fans might be willing to "trade" that for a top-four finish this season, even without silverware, to return to the Champions League and its associated revenue.

MU has twice won the league while playing 50 or fewer matches in a season: in 1996 and 1993. The 1992/93 season was notably MU’s first Premier League title in history.

According to Opta