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2017–18 Manchester United F.C. season

English football club season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.[1] United also returned to the Champions League after a single season's absence, having won the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League.

Quick facts Co-chairmen, Manager ...
Manchester United
2017–18 season
Manchester United players lining up before a Premier League match against West Ham United in August 2017 at Old Trafford
Co-chairmenJoel and Avram Glazer
ManagerJosé Mourinho
StadiumOld Trafford
Premier League2nd
FA CupRunners-up
EFL CupFifth round
UEFA Champions LeagueRound of 16
UEFA Super CupRunners-up
Top goalscorerLeague: Romelu Lukaku (16)
All: Romelu Lukaku (27)
Highest home attendance75,118
(vs. Crystal Palace,
30 September)
Lowest home attendance54,256
(vs. Burton Albion,
20 September)
Average home league attendance74,976
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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.[2] 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.[3][4] 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.[5][6][7]

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.[8] The tour also included games against Real Madrid and Barcelona.[9] The US tour started against LA Galaxy on 15 July 2017.[10] United then faced Vålerenga in Norway.[11] The final preparations during pre-season included a trip to the Republic of Ireland to face Sampdoria.[12]

More information Date, Opponents ...
Date Opponents H / A Result
F–A
Scorers Attendance
16 July 2017 LA Galaxy A 5–2 Rashford (2) 2', 20', Fellaini 26', Mkhitaryan 67', Martial 72' 25,667
18 July 2017 Real Salt Lake A 2–1 Mkhitaryan 29', Lukaku 38' 20,241
21 July 2017 Manchester City N 2–0 Lukaku 37', Rashford 39' 67,401
23 July 2017 Real Madrid N 1–1
(2–1p)
Lingard 45+1' 65,109
27 July 2017 Barcelona N 0–1 80,161
30 July 2017 Vålerenga A 3–0 Fellaini 44', Lukaku 47', McTominay 70' 25,137
2 August 2017 Sampdoria N 2–1 Mkhitaryan 9', Mata 81' 50,000[13]
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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.

More information Date, Opponents ...
Date Opponents H / A Result
F–A
Scorers Attendance
8 August 2017 Real Madrid N 1–2 Lukaku 62' 30,421
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Premier League

The Premier League season began on 11 August 2017 and concluded on 13 May 2018.[14] 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.[15]

More information Date, Opponents ...
Date Opponents H / A Result
F–A
Scorers Attendance League
position
13 August 2017 West Ham United H 4–0 Lukaku (2) 33', 52', Martial 87', Pogba 90' 74,928 1st
19 August 2017 Swansea City A 4–0 Bailly 45', Lukaku 80', Pogba 82', Martial 84' 20,862 1st
26 August 2017 Leicester City H 2–0 Rashford 70', Fellaini 82' 75,021 1st
9 September 2017 Stoke City A 2–2 Rashford 45+1', Lukaku 57' 29,320 1st
17 September 2017 Everton H 4–0 Valencia 4', Mkhitaryan 83', Lukaku 89', Martial 90+2' (pen.) 75,042 2nd
23 September 2017 Southampton A 1–0 Lukaku 20' 31,930 2nd
30 September 2017 Crystal Palace H 4–0 Mata 3', Fellaini (2) 35', 49', Lukaku 86' 75,118 2nd
14 October 2017 Liverpool A 0–0 52,912 2nd
21 October 2017 Huddersfield Town A 1–2 Rashford 78' 24,426 2nd
28 October 2017 Tottenham Hotspur H 1–0 Martial 81' 75,034 2nd
5 November 2017 Chelsea A 0–1 41,615 2nd
18 November 2017 Newcastle United H 4–1 Martial 37', Smalling 45+1', Pogba 54', Lukaku 70' 75,035 2nd
25 November 2017 Brighton & Hove Albion H 1–0 Dunk 66' (o.g.) 75,018 2nd
28 November 2017 Watford A 4–2 Young (2) 19', 25', Martial 32', Lingard 86' 20,552 2nd
2 December 2017 Arsenal A 3–1 Valencia 4', Lingard (2) 11', 63' 59,547 2nd
10 December 2017 Manchester City H 1–2 Rashford 45+2' 74,847 2nd
13 December 2017 Bournemouth H 1–0 Lukaku 25' 74,798 2nd
17 December 2017 West Bromwich Albion A 2–1 Lukaku 27', Lingard 35' 24,782 2nd
23 December 2017 Leicester City A 2–2 Mata (2) 40', 60' 32,202 2nd
26 December 2017 Burnley H 2–2 Lingard (2) 53', 90+1' 75,046 2nd
30 December 2017 Southampton H 0–0 75,051 3rd
1 January 2018 Everton A 2–0 Martial 57', Lingard 81' 39,188 2nd
15 January 2018 Stoke City H 3–0 Valencia 9', Martial 38', Lukaku 72' 74,726 2nd
20 January 2018 Burnley A 1–0 Martial 54' 21,841 2nd
31 January 2018 Tottenham Hotspur A 0–2 81,978 2nd
3 February 2018 Huddersfield Town H 2–0 Lukaku 55', Sánchez 68' 74,742 2nd
11 February 2018 Newcastle United A 0–1 52,309 2nd
25 February 2018 Chelsea H 2–1 Lukaku 39', Lingard 75' 75,060 2nd
5 March 2018 Crystal Palace A 3–2 Smalling 55', Lukaku 76', Matić 90+1' 25,840 2nd
10 March 2018 Liverpool H 2–1 Rashford (2) 14', 24' 74,855 2nd
31 March 2018 Swansea City H 2–0 Lukaku 5', Sánchez 20' 75,038 2nd
7 April 2018 Manchester City A 3–2 Pogba (2) 53', 55', Smalling 69' 54,259 2nd
15 April 2018 West Bromwich Albion H 0–1 75,095 2nd
18 April 2018 Bournemouth A 2–0 Smalling 28', Lukaku 70' 10,952 2nd
29 April 2018 Arsenal H 2–1 Pogba 16', Fellaini 90+1' 75,035 2nd
4 May 2018 Brighton & Hove Albion A 0–1 30,611 2nd
10 May 2018 West Ham United A 0–0 56,902 2nd
13 May 2018 Watford H 1–0 Rashford 34' 75,049 2nd
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More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Manchester City (C) 38 32 4 2 106 27 +79 100 Qualification for the Champions League group stage
2 Manchester United 38 25 6 7 68 28 +40 81
3 Tottenham Hotspur 38 23 8 7 74 36 +38 77
4 Liverpool 38 21 12 5 84 38 +46 75
5 Chelsea 38 21 7 10 62 38 +24 70 Qualification for the Europa League group stage[a]
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Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored. 4) Play-offs (only if needed to decide champion, teams for relegation or teams for UEFA competitions).[16]
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. Since the winners of the 2017–18 FA Cup (Chelsea) and the winners of the 2017–18 EFL Cup (Manchester City) both qualified for European competition based on their league positions, the berths awarded to the 5th-placed team (Europa League group stage) and the League Cup winners (Europa League second qualifying round) were passed down the league.

FA Cup

The opening ceremony of the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium

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.[17]

More information Date, Round ...
Date Round Opponents H / A Result
F–A
Scorers Attendance
5 January 2018 Round 3 Derby County H 2–0 Lingard 84', Lukaku 90' 73,899
26 January 2018 Round 4 Yeovil Town A 4–0 Rashford 41', Herrera 61', Lingard 89', Lukaku 90+3' 9,195
17 February 2018 Round 5 Huddersfield Town A 2–0 Lukaku (2) 3', 55' 17,861
17 March 2018 Quarter-finals Brighton & Hove Albion H 2–0 Lukaku 37, Matić 83' 74,421
21 April 2018 Semi-finals Tottenham Hotspur N[nb 1] 2–1 Sánchez 24', Herrera 62' 84,667
19 May 2018 Final Chelsea N 0–1 87,647
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EFL Cup

Manchester United entered the EFL Cup as holders, having beaten Southampton in the 2017 cup final. As one of the seven clubs that qualified for European competition in 2017–18,[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.[19] 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.[20][21] The fourth round draw confirmed the Red Devils visited Swansea City.[22] The fifth round draw was held on 26 October 2017, with United drawn against another Championship side Bristol City.[23]

More information Date, Round ...
Date Round Opponents H / A Result
F–A
Scorers Attendance
20 September 2017 Round 3 Burton Albion H 4–1 Rashford (2) 5', 17', Lingard 36', Martial 60' 54,256
24 October 2017 Round 4 Swansea City A 2–0 Lingard (2) 21', 59' 20,083
20 December 2017 Round 5 Bristol City A 1–2 Ibrahimović 58' 26,088
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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.[24] United were previously drawn with both Benfica and Basel in 2011–12, and with CSKA Moscow in 2009–10 and 2015–16; in 2011–12 and 2015–16, they finished third in the group and dropped down to the UEFA Europa League, while in 2009–10, United topped the group.

More information Date, Opponents ...
Date Opponents H / A Result
F–A
Scorers Attendance Group
position
12 September 2017 Basel H 3–0 Fellaini 35', Lukaku 53', Rashford 84' 73,854 1st
27 September 2017 CSKA Moscow A 4–1 Lukaku (2) 4', 27', Martial 19' (pen.), Mkhitaryan 57' 29,073 1st
18 October 2017 Benfica A 1–0 Rashford 64' 57,684 1st
31 October 2017 Benfica H 2–0 Svilar 45' (o.g.), Blind 78' (pen.) 74,437 1st
22 November 2017 Basel A 0–1 36,000 1st
5 December 2017 CSKA Moscow H 2–1 Lukaku 64', Rashford 66' 74,669 1st
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More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification MUN BSL CSKA BEN
1 England Manchester United 6 5 0 1 12 3 +9 15 Advance to knockout phase 3–0 2–1 2–0
2 Switzerland Basel 6 4 0 2 11 5 +6 12 1–0 1–2 5–0
3 Russia CSKA Moscow 6 3 0 3 8 10 2 9 Transfer to Europa League 1–4 0–2 2–0
4 Portugal Benfica 6 0 0 6 1 14 13 0 0–1 0–2 1–2
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Source: UEFA

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.[25] After a goalless draw in the first leg at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium,[26] 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.[27]

More information Date, Round ...
Date Round Opponents H / A Result
F–A
Scorers Attendance
21 February 2018 Round of 16
First leg
Sevilla A 0–0 39,725
13 March 2018 Round of 16
Second leg
Sevilla H 1–2 Lukaku 84' 74,909
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Squad statistics

More information No., Pos. ...
No. Pos. Name League FA Cup League Cup Europe Other Total Discipline
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1GKSpain David de Gea 3702000601046000
2DFSweden Victor Lindelöf 13(4)03030501025(4)010
3DFIvory Coast Eric Bailly 11(2)11(1)000300015(3)130
4DFEngland Phil Jones 2302000000025030
5DFArgentina Marcos Rojo 8(1)01010100011(1)060
6MFFrance Paul Pogba 25(2)630103(2)01033(4)661
7FWChile Alexis Sánchez 1224100200018320
8MFSpain Juan Mata 23(5)34(1)0105(1)00033(7)310
9FWBelgium Romelu Lukaku 33(1)163(3)50(2)0851145(6)2740
10FWSweden Zlatan Ibrahimović 1(4)000110(1)0002(5)100
11FWFrance Anthony Martial 18(12)91(3)0314(4)10026(19)1110
12DFEngland Chris Smalling 28(1)4502(1)0801044(2)440
14MFEngland Jesse Lingard 20(13)84(2)2233(3)01030(18)1350
15MFBrazil Andreas Pereira 00000000000000
16MFEngland Michael Carrick (c) 1(1)0201000004(1)000
17DFNetherlands Daley Blind 4(3)01030610014(3)120
18MFEngland Ashley Young 28(2)23(1)000400035(3)290
19FWEngland Marcus Rashford 17(18)73(2)1323(5)30(1)026(26)1370
20GKArgentina Sergio Romero 104030200010000
21MFSpain Ander Herrera 13(13)042205(1)01025(14)260
22MFArmenia Henrikh Mkhitaryan 11(4)1100(1)03(1)11016(6)220
23DFEngland Luke Shaw 8(3)0401(2)0100014(5)020
25DFEcuador Antonio Valencia 31330004010393100
27MFBelgium Marouane Fellaini 5(11)40(3)0002(1)10(1)07(16)510
29FWEngland James Wilson 00000000000000
31MFSerbia Nemanja Matić 35(1)1410(1)06(1)01046(3)260
35DFEngland Demetri Mitchell 00000000000000
36DFItaly Matteo Darmian 5(3)01(1)0302(1)01012(5)010
38DFEngland Axel Tuanzebe 0(1)000100(1)0001(2)010
39MFScotland Scott McTominay 7(6)0302(1)02(2)00014(9)040
40GKPortugal Joel Castro Pereira 00000(1)000000(1)000
43DFEngland Cameron Borthwick-Jackson 00000000000000
45GKRepublic of Ireland Kieran O'Hara 00000000000000
47MFEngland Angel Gomes 000(1)00000000(1)000
48MFScotland Ethan Hamilton 00000000000000
Own goals 100102
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Statistics accurate as of 19 May 2018.[28]

Transfers

In

More information Date, Pos. ...
Date Pos. Name From Fee
1 July 2017 DF Sweden Victor Lindelöf Portugal Benfica Undisclosed[nb 2][30]
10 July 2017 FW Belgium Romelu Lukaku England Everton Undisclosed[nb 3][32]
31 July 2017 MF Serbia Nemanja Matić England Chelsea Undisclosed[nb 4][34]
24 August 2017 FW Sweden Zlatan Ibrahimović Unattached[35]
22 January 2018 FW Chile Alexis Sánchez England Arsenal Undisclosed[36]
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Out

More information Date, Pos. ...
Date Pos. Name To Fee
30 June 2017 FW Sweden Zlatan Ibrahimović Released[37]
30 June 2017 FW England Kayne Diedrick-Roberts Released[38]
30 June 2017 MF Democratic Republic of the Congo Faustin Makela Released[38]
30 June 2017 MF England Josh Harrop England Preston North End Undisclosed[39]
9 July 2017 FW England Wayne Rooney England Everton Undisclosed[40]
12 July 2017 MF Belgium Adnan Januzaj Spain Real Sociedad Undisclosed[nb 5][42]
12 August 2017 DF Uruguay Guillermo Varela Uruguay Peñarol Undisclosed[43]
22 January 2018 MF Armenia Henrikh Mkhitaryan England Arsenal Undisclosed[36]
22 March 2018 FW Sweden Zlatan Ibrahimović Released[nb 6][45]
3 April 2018 DF England Harry Spratt England Huddersfield Town Free[46]
3 April 2018 DF England Jake Barrett England Huddersfield Town Free[46]
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Loan out

More information Date from, Date to ...
Date from Date to Pos. Name To
7 July 2017 30 June 2018 DF Wales Regan Poole England Northampton Town[47]
10 July 2017 30 June 2018 GK England Dean Henderson England Shrewsbury Town[48]
14 July 2017 30 June 2018 GK England Sam Johnstone England Aston Villa[49]
28 July 2017 January 2018 MF England Devonte Redmond England Scunthorpe United[50][51]
7 August 2017 16 January 2018 DF England Cameron Borthwick-Jackson England Leeds United[52]
10 August 2017 30 June 2018 DF Netherlands Timothy Fosu-Mensah England Crystal Palace[53]
31 August 2017 31 January 2018 MF England Matty Willock Netherlands Utrecht[54][55]
1 September 2017 30 June 2018 MF Brazil Andreas Pereira Spain Valencia[56]
10 January 2018 30 June 2018 FW England James Wilson England Sheffield United[57]
11 January 2018 30 June 2018 DF England Demetri Mitchell Scotland Heart of Midlothian[58]
25 January 2018 30 June 2018 DF England Axel Tuanzebe England Aston Villa[59]
31 January 2018 30 June 2018 MF England Matty Willock Scotland St Johnstone[60]
31 January 2018 30 June 2018 DF England Charlie Scott Scotland Hamilton Academical[61]
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Notes

  1. Although Tottenham Hotspur played their home games at Wembley in 2017–18, it was designated as a neutral venue for the FA Cup semi-final.
  2. Fee reported as £30.7 million[29]
  3. Fee reported as £75 million[31]
  4. Fee reported as £40 million[33]
  5. Fee reported as £9.8 million[41]
  6. Following his release, Ibrahimović joined LA Galaxy.[44]

References

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