Which players did themselves proud in the Red Devils' worst-ever Premier League season? And who were the biggest disappointments?
Well, at least it's over now. Manchester United's 2024-25 season has been an ordeal no one should have ever had to put up with. It ended with the team languished in 15th in the Premier League table, their lowest finish in the league's history and their worst showing since they were last relegated from the top flight in 1974.
It was not just the final league position that made for grim reading, though. The Red Devils lost 18 of their 38 matches and had a goal difference of minus 10, finishing on just 42 points. Last season eighth-placed finish was a catastrophe, but compared to this one, it looks fantastic.
Erik ten Hag lasted nine matches before he was sacked in October, only four months after being handed a contract extension. Interim coach Ruud van Nistelrooy was unbeaten in his four matches in charge and there was plenty of hope that Ruben Amorim would be able to turn United around after successfully waking another sleeping giant in Sporting CP. The Portuguese talked a good gamem but the team could not adapt to his 3-4-2-1 formation, and Amorim was not ready to compromise.
United's FA Cup defence ended in the fifth round with a penalty shootout defeat at home to Fulham while they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup in the quarter-finals by Tottenham, a team that would end up haunting them like no one else. The only positive aspect of this harrowing campaign was the Europa League campaign, and United fans will never forget what they were doing when Harry Maguire completed the most epic of extra-time comebacks against Lyon. Amorim's team also produced two excellent performances against Athletic Club in the semi-final, but when they returned to Bilbao for the final, they froze and were out-fought by Tottenham, who nicked the golden ticket of Champions League qualification from their grasp.
GOAL rates all the United players from their season from hell..
Getty Images Sport28Tyrell Malacia – N/A
Returned from obscurity after 18 months out following two knee surgeries to play a few games under Amorim, but looked way off the pace and a loan switch to PSV in late January felt like a good move for everyone. Malacia did not play much for his new club either, though he did collect an Eredivisie winners' medal.
AdvertisementGetty Images27Toby Collyer – N/A
The former Brighton youngster was thrown in at the deep end against Liverpool in September as Ten Hag took off the hapless Casemiro, although he has had to wait patiently for opportunities since. Got a good run of games under Amorim – being chosen ahead of Casemiro at times – although two untimely injuries disrupted his progress.
Getty Images Sport26Jonny Evans – N/A
The much-loved veteran was given another year at United after showing he still had plenty to offer as a squad player upon his surprise return last season. It proved to be one campaign too many, though, as Evans made a smattering of appearances under Ten Hag and then started Amorim’s first game in charge, only to fall indefinitely out of the XI thereafter.
Getty25Harry Amass – N/A
After an encouraging pre-season tour, the teenager had to wait until March to finally make his debut. Amass made four starts, all in games before or after Europa League matches, and with each outing his physical shortcomings became more obvious. He will need to bulk up before the next season if he wants to get more opportunities.