2017–18 Manchester United F.C. season


The 2017–18 season was Manchester United's 26th season in the Premier League and their 43rd consecutive season in the top flight of English football. The season was the first since 2003–04 without former club captain Wayne Rooney, who rejoined Everton after 13 seasons with United, during which time he overtook Bobby Charlton as their all-time top scorer. United also returned to the Champions League after a single season's absence, having won the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League.
United achieved their highest points total and league placing since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, amassing 81 points to finish second in the Premier League. However, despite winning three cups the previous season, the club failed to secure silverware this time around, also finishing as runners-up in both the UEFA Super Cup and FA Cup. United also suffered disappointing exits in both the EFL Cup and Champions League, bowing out to Bristol City and Sevilla respectively by 2–1 scorelines. Throughout the season, despite having a wealth of attacking options and completing the signing of Alexis Sánchez in January, manager José Mourinho was criticised by sections of the media and a section of United supporters for a perceived negative playing style.

Pre-season and friendlies

United preceded their 2017–18 campaign with a tour of the United States, which included the first Manchester derby to be played outside the United Kingdom, in the International Champions Cup. The tour also included games against Real Madrid and Barcelona. The US tour started against LA Galaxy on 15 July 2017. United then faced Vålerenga in Norway. The final preparations during pre-season included a trip to the Republic of Ireland to face Sampdoria.
DateOpponentsH / AResult
F–A
ScorersAttendance
16 July 2017LA GalaxyARashford 2', 20', Fellaini 26', Mkhitaryan 67', Martial 72'25,667
18 July 2017Real Salt LakeAMkhitaryan 29', Lukaku 38'20,241
21 July 2017Manchester CityNLukaku 37', Rashford 39'67,401
23 July 2017Real MadridN
Lingard 45+1'65,109
27 July 2017BarcelonaN80,162
30 July 2017VålerengaAFellaini 44', Lukaku 47', McTominay 70'25,137
2 August 2017SampdoriaNMkhitaryan 9', Mata 81'50,000

UEFA Super Cup

Manchester United, as winners of the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League faced Real Madrid, winners of the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League for the 2017 UEFA Super Cup on 8 August 2017, at the Philip II Arena in Skopje, Macedonia.
DateOpponentsH / AResult
F–A
ScorersAttendance
8 August 2017Real MadridNLukaku 62'30,421

Premier League

The Premier League season began on 11 August 2017 and concluded on 13 May 2018. Michael Carrick played his final match against Watford as captain. He was subbed off in the 85th minute for Paul Pogba. He also received a guard of honour from both sets of players before the kick-off. This was also his 464th appearance for United.
DateOpponentsH / AResult
F–A
ScorersAttendanceLeague
position
13 August 2017West Ham UnitedHLukaku 33', 52', Martial 87', Pogba 90'74,9281st
19 August 2017Swansea CityABailly 45', Lukaku 80', Pogba 82', Martial 84'20,8621st
26 August 2017Leicester CityHRashford 70', Fellaini 82'75,0211st
9 September 2017Stoke CityARashford 45+1', Lukaku 57'29,3201st
17 September 2017EvertonHValencia 4', Mkhitaryan 83', Lukaku 89', Martial 90+2' 75,0422nd
23 September 2017SouthamptonALukaku 20'31,9302nd
30 September 2017Crystal PalaceHMata 3', Fellaini 35', 49', Lukaku 86'75,1182nd
14 October 2017LiverpoolA52,9122nd
21 October 2017Huddersfield TownARashford 78'24,4262nd
28 October 2017Tottenham HotspurHMartial 81'75,0342nd
5 November 2017ChelseaA41,6152nd
18 November 2017Newcastle UnitedHMartial 37', Smalling 45+1', Pogba 54', Lukaku 70'75,0352nd
25 November 2017Brighton & Hove AlbionHDunk 66' 75,0182nd
28 November 2017WatfordAYoung 19', 25', Martial 32', Lingard 86'20,5522nd
2 December 2017ArsenalAValencia 4', Lingard 11', 63'59,5472nd
10 December 2017Manchester CityHRashford 45+2'74,8472nd
13 December 2017BournemouthHLukaku 25'74,7982nd
17 December 2017West Bromwich AlbionALukaku 27', Lingard 35'24,7822nd
23 December 2017Leicester CityAMata 40', 60'32,2022nd
26 December 2017BurnleyHLingard 53', 90+1'75,0462nd
30 December 2017SouthamptonH75,0513rd
1 January 2018EvertonAMartial 57', Lingard 81'39,1882nd
15 January 2018Stoke CityHValencia 9', Martial 38', Lukaku 72'74,7262nd
20 January 2018BurnleyAMartial 54'21,8412nd
31 January 2018Tottenham HotspurA81,9782nd
3 February 2018Huddersfield TownHLukaku 55', Sánchez 68'74,7422nd
11 February 2018Newcastle UnitedA52,3092nd
25 February 2018ChelseaHLukaku 39', Lingard 75'75,0602nd
5 March 2018Crystal PalaceASmalling 55', Lukaku 76', Matić 90+1'25,8402nd
10 March 2018LiverpoolHRashford 14', 24'74,8552nd
31 March 2018Swansea CityHLukaku 5', Sánchez 20'75,0382nd
7 April 2018Manchester CityAPogba 53', 55', Smalling 69'54,2592nd
15 April 2018West Bromwich AlbionH75,0952nd
18 April 2018BournemouthASmalling 28', Lukaku 70'10,9522nd
29 April 2018ArsenalHPogba 16', Fellaini 90+1'75,0352nd
4 May 2018Brighton & Hove AlbionA30,6112nd
10 May 2018West Ham UnitedA56,9022nd
13 May 2018WatfordHRashford 34'75,0492nd

FA Cup

Manchester United entered the FA Cup in the third round as all 20 Premier League clubs automatically received a bye to that stage. Matches were played between 5–8 January 2018.
DateRoundOpponentsH / AResult
F–A
ScorersAttendance
5 January 2018Round 3Derby CountyHLingard 84', Lukaku 90'73,899
26 January 2018Round 4Yeovil TownARashford 41', Herrera 61', Lingard 89', Lukaku 90+3'9,195
17 February 2018Round 5Huddersfield TownALukaku 3', 55'17,861
17 March 2018Quarter-finalsBrighton & Hove AlbionHLukaku 37, Matić 83'74,421
21 April 2018Semi-finalsTottenham HotspurNSánchez 24', Herrera 62'84,667
19 May 2018FinalChelseaN87,647

EFL Cup

Manchester United entered the EFL Cup as holders, having beaten Southampton in the 2017 final. As one of the seven clubs that qualified for European competition in 2017–18, they entered the EFL Cup in the third round, the draw for which was held on 24 August, with Manchester United being paired with Championship club Burton Albion. The two sides last met in the third round of the 2005–06 FA Cup, with United winning a replay 5–0 at Old Trafford following a goalless draw at the Pirelli Stadium. The fourth round draw confirmed the Red Devils visited Swansea City. The fifth round draw was held on 26 October 2017, with United drawn against another Championship side Bristol City.
DateRoundOpponentsH / AResult
F–A
ScorersAttendance
20 September 2017Round 3Burton AlbionHRashford 5', 17', Lingard 36', Martial 60'54,256
24 October 2017Round 4Swansea CityALingard 21', 59'20,083
20 December 2017Round 5Bristol CityAIbrahimović 58'26,088

UEFA Champions League

Group stage

Manchester United qualified for the group stage of the Champions League as winners of the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League and were placed in pot 2 for the group stage draw. The draw was made on 24 August 2017, with Manchester United drawn alongside Benfica, Basel and CSKA Moscow. United were previously drawn with both Benfica and Basel in 2011–12, and with CSKA Moscow in 2015–16; on both occasions, they finished third in the group and dropped down to the UEFA Europa League.
DateOpponentsH / AResult
F–A
ScorersAttendanceGroup
position
12 September 2017BaselHFellaini 35', Lukaku 53', Rashford 84'73,8541st
27 September 2017CSKA MoscowALukaku 4', 27', Martial 19', Mkhitaryan 57'29,0731st
18 October 2017BenficaARashford 64'57,6841st
31 October 2017BenficaHSvilar 45', Blind 78' 74,4371st
22 November 2017BaselA36,0001st
5 December 2017CSKA MoscowHLukaku 64', Rashford 66'74,6691st

Knockout phase

After winning their group and progressing to the round of 16, United were drawn against Spanish club Sevilla in the first competitive meeting between the two sides. After a goalless draw in the first leg at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, Sevilla took the lead in the tie late in the second leg, when Wissam Ben Yedder scored twice within minutes of coming on as a substitute. Romelu Lukaku pulled one back for United six minutes from the end, but they were unable to score the two further goals required to avoid elimination.
DateRoundOpponentsH / AResult
F–A
ScorersAttendance
21 February 2018Round of 16
First leg
SevillaA39,725
13 March 2018Round of 16
Second leg
SevillaHLukaku 84'74,909

Squad statistics

Statistics accurate as of 19 May 2018.

Transfers

In

Out

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