Manchester United's 2025-26 Season Preview: Aggressive Recruitment to Prevent a Repeat of the Previous Season's Shortcomings
Manchester United's 2022-2023 season was a mixed bag, with cautious optimism but also some notable setbacks. Under the guidance of Erik ten Hag, who took over towards the end of the previous season, the club aimed to stabilise and compete for trophies.
The team managed to win the EFL Cup, but their league form was inconsistent, finishing mid-table and dropping to 15th by 2024–25, their worst position since 1973–74. Notable performers during this period included Matheus Cunha, who outperformed his expected goals (xG) in the Premier League, suggesting he may be perfectly suited to the club's 3-4-3 formation.
Ruben Amorim, who was appointed as Manchester United's head coach only in November 2024, did not have a bearing on the 2022-2023 season. Omar Berrada, the club's CEO, brought in Amorim mid-season to help the struggling team.
The 2022-2023 season also saw the arrival of Rasmus Hojlund and Matheus Cunha, as well as Bryan Mbeumo in the current season. However, the club still lacked a goalscorer up front, with Hojlund's fair shot at the striker position not yielding the desired results.
Bruno Fernandes was the club's top scorer with 19 goals in all competitions last season. His impressive performance earned him a ranking of no.4 in our website's list of the best attacking midfielders in the world right now.
Defensively, the team saw promising performances from young players like Leny Yoro, a teenager equipped to be an elite central defender, and Harry Maguire, who demonstrated his ability to dribble past three opponents and hit a rabona towards a team-mate.
Despite these positive signs, the mood at Manchester United is at an all-time low after their worst finish since relegation in 1973-74. Pre-season optimism and new signings may temporarily lift the mood, but the club is predicted to finish 9th in the Premier League this season.
The lack of a new stadium or Old Trafford redevelopment this season is another point of contention, due to the time and money required. The big talking point, however, remains whether INEOS are less clueless than the Glazers in terms of managing the club.
Jonny Evans, a former first-team player, is now taking up a mentoring role for United loanees, while Amad, a young player at Manchester United, made a game-changing intervention in the Manchester derby, demonstrating his bravery and ability to improvise.
As the new season begins, Manchester United's Season Preview predicts a marked improvement from their 15th place finish in the Premier League last season. The question remains whether the team can live up to these expectations and return to their former glory.
Football was a central part of Manchester United's 2022-2023 season, with the team managing to win the EFL Cup, but their league form was inconsistent, finishing mid-table and dropping to 15th by 2024–25 in the Premier League. Notable performers during this period included Matheus Cunha, who showed he could thrive in Manchester United's 3-4-3 formation, outperforming his expected goals (xG) in the Premier League.
