It was a decision he may now regret as United were over-powered and over-run in all areas, unable to stem the tide and failing to cope with City's creation and the awesome power and athleticism of Haaland. The fact they scored more goals in the second half than City, including a beauty from new signing Antony, can hardly be labelled as a consolation as their recent upturn in results was put in perspective. Mourinho himself said: "To become Manchester United manager is a special honour in the game. It is a club known and admired throughout the world. There is a mystique and a romance about it which no other club can match." After refuelling in Munich on 6 February 1958, the United aeroplane crashed, killing 22 people, including seven players – Byrne, Colman, Jones, Pegg, Taylor, Geoff Bentand Liam Whelan. Duncan Edwards died of his injuries 15 days later in a German hospital. The club, the city of Manchester and the English game entered a long period of mourning. It seemed inconceivable that United couldrecover from such an appalling loss. It came with a man named Matt Busby, who would prove to be a hugely important figure in the history of Manchester United. A former Manchester City and Liverpool player, Busby served in the Ninth Battalion of the King's Liverpool Regiment, where his leadership qualities shone through. These qualities did not go unnoticed by United.

But, Erik ten Hag being able to execute [his plan] and get the players in as early as possible I think is what is most important. If, and it looks like the Glazers are looking to sell, then of course you want the right resolution for the future of the football club and not just a resolution which is a change of ownership. What they had not signed up for was bearing witness to Best entering the twilight seasons of his Old Trafford career – while around him a team of ageing greats would be under-replenished to the extent that in 1974, six years after becoming champions of Europe, the football world reverberated to the stunning eventuality of Manchester United being relegated to the second division. It certainly adds extra sheen to this season for United, who are in a good position to secure a place in next season's Champions League via the league and now have the chance to add a second piece of silverware against their arch-rivals at Wembley. Heartbreak for Brighton United looked out of their depth within seconds of the start, surviving three goal-line clearances in the same incident before Foden set the tone for the afternoon when he flashed Silva's cross past a helpless David de Gea.

Key Events

Covid restrictions continued to keep fans away from matches for much of 2020/21. In fact, supporters were not permitted inside Old Trafford until the final home game of the season, in May, when Edinson Cavani scored a stunning long-range goal in a 1-1 draw with Fulham. The Uruguayan striker was one of five players signed that season, alongside Donny van de Beek, Alex Telles, Facundo Pellistri and Amad, and Solskjaer's expanded squad achieved an improved Premier League position as the Reds claimed second spot behind local rivals Manchester City. Yet rather than switch allegiance elsewhere or simply desert an apparently sinking ship, the faithful remained exactly that – and despite operating in reduced circumstances Manchester United remained the best supported club in the country, the average Old Trafford attendance for a season of Division Two home matches an astonishing 47,781. The next season saw United build on the foundations of FA Cup success to challenge for the title – finishing second, only four points behind the champions Liverpool. The 1962/63 season was also notable for the signing and debut of George Best, the young man from Belfast who would become football's first superstar. His incredible skill, pace and control left opponents in knots, making him a hit with the fans, while his film-star looks helped elevate his fame to celebrity status.

Everyone says it is Mourinho's fault but it is not his fault because I made the decision [to leave Chelsea]. I went to his office to ask if I could go. The board of directors had kept faith in manager Tommy Docherty despite United's relegation, and he delivered an instant return to the First Division by guiding United to the Second Division title. [2] Despite being a second division side, their average home attendance of 47,781 was still the highest in the country that season. He wanted to play for Chelsea but he clearly wanted to be first-choice striker - but for a club of our dimension it is very difficult to promise to a player." The influence that Giggs could have on results was never more apparent than in the 1999 FA Cup semi-final replay, when he scored perhaps the goal of the decade – a solo run and finish that left Arsenal's defenders grasping at thin air. It booked United's place in their fifth FA Cup final of the 1990s, and this time Ferguson's men won it, beating Newcastle United 2-0 with goals by Paul Scholesand substitute Teddy Sheringham.Sheffield Wednesday took part in one of the games of the season, a 4-4 home draw with Man Utd in December, but they were to only score one league goal in the first three months of 1975 and went down with several weeks to spare. The 7,444 who saw Wednesday’s penultimate home game against Oxford was the lowest League crowd in their history. Cardiff sealed their fate by taking only one point from their last six games. Millwall could have stayed up by winning at home to Bristol Rovers in their final match but drew 1-1. Erik ten Hag was announced as the new permanent manager on 21 April 2022, but the Dutchman would see out the campaign at Ajax before starting work at Carrington. The new boss oversaw some major changes to the squad as the likes of Edinson Cavani, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, Nemanja Maticand Paul Pogba departed during the summer, while Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and Antony were acquired. United now have the opportunity to go toe-to-toe City in the final, an encounter both sides - and the city of Manchester - will relish.

He netted 68 Premier League goals across his two spells, scoring 25 times in the Premier League last season. Although they failed in their attempt to start the season with six wins in a row for the first time since 1947, it wasn't a completely disastrous day for Arsenal.

Transfers: Out

Former Manchester United star Danny Webber claims that the club's success will effectively boil down to the manager, rather than who sits in the boardroom. As hooliganism became synonymous with Manchester United away matches, it thus became a regular feature of television news broadcasts during the entire season.

If anyone at United thought those better results in the last few weeks meant they were moving closer to City, this scoreline - which actually flattered them - put a stop to those notions.The January jaunt to South America didn't result in any silverware but it gave the players valuable relaxation time in the sun. Rejuvenated by this, United raced ahead of the rivals in the title race on return to England, after they had failed to capitalise at the start of the year. Sir Alex's men achieved their sixth Premiership title early, in April, and still without a convincing replacement for Peter Schmeichel. Perhaps the most important signing Busby made, however, was on the coaching staff. Matt had met Jimmy Murphy during the war, and identified him as his perfect right-hand man. The pair formed a partnership that would see United become a power in world football. Arsenal should have equalised when Gabriel Jesus got the better of Martinez and set up Odegaard but neither the Norwegian, nor Saka as Arsenal continued to press could find the target when well placed to do much better. In 1955/56 and 1956/57, Byrne lifted the Division One trophy as skipper of a fabled young side that included several more products of Busby’s youth academy. Eddie Colman, Mark Jonesand David Peggwere all first-team regulars, having cut their teeth in the FA Youth Cup, which United won five years in a row from its inception in 1953.