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2023–24 Manchester United F.C. season

The 2023–24 season was the 137th in the history of Manchester United, their 32nd season in the Premier League and their 49th consecutive season in the top flight of English football. The club were participating in the Premier League, the FA Cup, the EFL Cup and the UEFA Champions League. After being knocked out of the EFL Cup in the fourth round by their final opponents from the previous season, Newcastle United, they suffered their worst performance in the Champions League group stage, finishing in fourth place in their group with just four points. They managed to win the final of the FA Cup after overcoming rivals Liverpool after extra time in the quarter-finals and Coventry City on penalties in the semi-final, and finally cross-town rivals Manchester City 2–1, to win the FA Cup final. However, they finished in eighth place in the Premier League, their worst placed finish in the history of the competition, level on points with seventh-placed Newcastle but 24 goals behind on goal difference.

It 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 1985; 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.

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, and Borussia Dortmund in Las Vegas. On 12 May, the club announced their third and fourth pre-season friendlies in the US against fierce rivals Arsenal in New York City, and in Houston against Real Madrid, which will be played one day after Wrexham game. A fifth friendly, the first based in the UK, against Lyon in Edinburgh was also added to the pre-season calendar. On 25 May, the club announced a friendly against Roses rivals and EFL Championship club Leeds United in Oslo. A seventh match, against Athletic Bilbao in Dublin, was announced on 13 June. On 29 June, the club announced a home friendly against French club Lens, to be played the day before the match against Athletic Bilbao.

United won their first match of pre-season against Leeds 2–0, thanks to second-half goals from substitutes Noam Emeran and Joe Hugill, while Donny van de Beek's goal against Lyon gave them their second win in Edinburgh. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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. 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.

Premier League

The 2023–24 Premier League fixtures were released on 15 June 2023.

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. 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. 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.

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.

Matches

League table

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, with the match to be played on 8 January 2024. 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. Newport were confirmed as their opponents when they beat Eastleigh 3–1 in a replay on 16 January 2024. On 28 January, United won at Rodney Parade 4–2 courtesy of goals from Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Antony and Rasmus Højlund. On the same day, Bristol City or Nottingham Forest were drawn as their next opponents, with the match taking place on 28 February. On 7 February, Nottingham Forest were confirmed as United's next opponents thanks to their 5–3 win on penalties. United won at City Ground 1–0 thanks to a late effort from Casemiro.

With Liverpool's 3–0 win over Southampton in the fifth round, United were drawn against their rivals in the quarter-finals. 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.

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.

United faced Manchester City for a second consecutive Manchester Derby FA Cup Final. Alejandro Garnacho opened the scoring following a miscommunication between Joško Gvardiol and Stefan Ortega. Following a disallowed Marcus Rashford goal, Kobbie Mainoo quickly scored United's second. Jerémy Doku got one back for City late on but it wasn't enough as United picked up their 13th FA Cup trophy.

EFL Cup

As United were competing in UEFA competition in 2023–24 as the reigning champions of the competition, they entered the 2023–24 EFL Cup in the third round in September. They were drawn at home to Crystal Palace. They beat Palace 3–0 thanks to goals from Alejandro Garnacho, Casemiro and Anthony Martial. In the fourth round, they were given another home draw against Newcastle United, in a repeat of the 2023 EFL Cup final. This time they lost 3–0, with goals from Miguel Almirón and Lewis Hall in the first half and a third from Joe Willock in the second.

UEFA Champions League

Group stage

Having finished third in the 2022–23 Premier League, United qualified for the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League. They entered the competition in the group stage, which was drawn on 31 August 2023, with United in pot 2 along with Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Atlético Madrid, RB Leipzig, Porto and Arsenal. United were drawn into Group A along with Bayern Munich, Copenhagen and Galatasaray.