Manchester United's third-place finish in 2025-26 was a surprise and a relief. Returning to the Champions League is important not just for financial reasons but for the fans, who can now attend more games than last season's paltry 40, many of them shifted to a Monday night for TV.
The four major summer signings (Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Senne Lammens and Benjamin Sesko) all worked out, which is exceedingly rare. After good first seasons, can they have the great campaigns needed for Manchester United to challenge for the title?
That may be too far, but United do at least need to finish in the Champions League places again while also showing up in Europe.
Can Michael Carrick continue to make strides in seeing the Red Devils become title contenders again?
More smart recruitment in 2026 would help, with money freed up by the exit of top earner Casemiro, although the Brazilian was also one of United's best players last season. Ruben Amorim's win rate was appalling and the Portuguese talked himself out of a job, but he did help to clean up the dressing room for Michael Carrick to inherit at his expense come January.
United are now looking more like a team, with a healthy mix of emerging talents and experience. While not yet a vintage side, and no longer paying out top wages following years of profligacy, they beat all of their big domestic rivals in 2025-26. The mood is positive, optimism is increasing, but it can always turn quickly.
The Coach
Michael Carrick exceeded expectations in taking United from seventh to third with a points-per-game record that was even higher than that of Arsenal. Calm, collected and controversy-free, he has a quiet intelligence about him, as well as very able assistants.
Key Player
Bruno Fernandes was United's best player by a distance once again last term. The feted assist king also knits the dressing room together as club captain, while performing to the highest level. He turns 32 in September – will he be around when and if United are great again?
Last Season's Results
PREMIER LEAGUE: 3rd
FA CUP: Third Round
LEAGUE CUP: Second Round
Top Scorer
Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko each bagged 12 goals for Manchester United in all competitions last season.
Lessons From Last Year
Turn up for every game – not just the big ones. United beat all of the top teams but were unable to win home or away against West Ham, and also drew with each of the other two relegated teams (while needing a stoppage-time penalty to beat Burnley at Old Trafford).
Against top-half sides, United picked up the most points in the league – more than they did against teams in the bottom half. While the Red Devils won nine of those 20 easier games, Arsenal won 18. That's the difference.
Most Likely To...
Sell out Old Trafford every single game. United still boast England's highest average attendances, despite not being in the title race since 2013. Around 15,000 fans allowed to apply for 3,000 away tickets every other week do so. It's not always easy supporting a big club. All right, put the violins away.
Least Likely To...
Stay the course in a title race. After playing only two cup games last term, throwing Europe into the mix threatens any league consistency.
View From The Stands
Words by: SCOTT PATTERSON @R_o_M
Last season was all right before Ruben Amorim got sacked, then pretty great after he left, but we were playing catch-up by then.
This season will be different because Michael Carrick understands the club, and has experience in his coaching staff.
Our key player will be Bruno Fernandes, as always. It's strange that his importance to United had largely been ignored up to now, given he has created the most chances in Europe every season since we signed him.
Look out for Shea Lacey. The teenager hit the bar late on in our draw with Burnley, then got sent off for petulance in the next game, which cost him his place in the squad for derby day. If not for that, we might have seen more of him last season.
Fans think our owners are parasites. Between the Glazers funnelling money out of the club and Sir Jim Ratcliffe's political views, it's hard to imagine more unpopular owners.
A social media account to follow is @NQATPod.
The opposition player who grinds my gears is Declan Rice and all of his performative nonsense.
The fans' opinion of the gaffer is very positive. Carrick made football fun again, after Amorim kept telling us we had to suffer! Having the league's best form for half a season was justification for giving him the job permanently. But he's still under pressure, as is every Manchester United manager.
If he left, he should be replaced by Luis Enrique.
We'll finish 3rd.
Fixtures
AUGUST
22 Hull City (A)
29 Ipswich (H)
SEPTEMBER
5 Everton (A)
12 Man City (H)
19 Fulham (A)
OCTOBER
10 Tottenham (H)
17 Leeds (A)
24 Bournemouth (H)
31 Chelsea (A)
NOVEMBER
7 Aston Villa (H)
21 Liverpool (A)
28 Brentford (H)
DECEMBER
2 Newcastle (A)
5 Coventry (H)
12 Crystal Palace (A)
19 Arsenal (A)
26 Nott'm Forest (H)
30 Sunderland (H)
JANUARY
2 Brighton (A)
6 Newcastle (H)
16 Aston Villa (A)
23 Liverpool (H)
30 Brentford (A)
FEBRUARY
6 Chelsea (H)
10 Brighton (H)
20 Nott'm Forest (A)
27 Arsenal (H)
MARCH
3 Sunderland (A)
13 Everton (H)
20 Man City (A)
APRIL
10 Hull City (H)
17 Ipswich (A)
24 Crystal Palace (H)
MAY
1 Coventry (A)
8 Bournemouth (A)
15 Leeds (H)
23 Tottenham (A)
30 Fulham (H)
Title Odds
Manchester United to win the Premier League title odds: 13/2
FFT Verdict
FourFourTwo verdict: Manchester United to finish 4th.
United should retain their regained Champions League status, even without Casemiro's eight headed league goals last term. Carrick has to ensure his brilliant start doesn't fade, as it did with Middlesbrough.
This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.
