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 / AResultF–AScorersAttendance16 July 2017LA GalaxyA5–2Rashford (2) 2', 20', Fellaini 26', Mkhitaryan 67', Martial 72'25,66718 July 2017Real Salt LakeA2–1Mkhitaryan 29', Lukaku 38'20,24121 July 2017Manchester CityN2–0Lukaku 37', Rashford 39'67,40123 July 2017Real MadridN1–1(2–1p)Lingard 45+1'65,10927 July 2017BarcelonaN0–180,16130 July 2017VålerengaA3–0Fellaini 44', Lukaku 47', McTominay 70'25,1372 August 2017SampdoriaN2–1Mkhitaryan 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 / AResultF–AScorersAttendance8 August 2017Real MadridN1–2Lukaku 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 / AResultF–AScorersAttendanceLeagueposition13 August 2017West Ham UnitedH4–0Lukaku (2) 33', 52', Martial 87', Pogba 90'74,9281st19 August 2017Swansea CityA4–0Bailly 45', Lukaku 80', Pogba 82', Martial 84'20,8621st26 August 2017Leicester CityH2–0Rashford 70', Fellaini 82'75,0211st9 September 2017Stoke CityA2–2Rashford 45+1', Lukaku 57'29,3201st17 September 2017EvertonH4–0Valencia 4', Mkhitaryan 83', Lukaku 89', Martial 90+2' (pen.)75,0422nd23 September 2017SouthamptonA1–0Lukaku 20'31,9302nd30 September 2017Crystal PalaceH4–0Mata 3', Fellaini (2) 35', 49', Lukaku 86'75,1182nd14 October 2017LiverpoolA0–052,9122nd21 October 2017Huddersfield TownA1–2Rashford 78'24,4262nd28 October 2017Tottenham HotspurH1–0Martial 81'75,0342nd5 November 2017ChelseaA0–141,6152nd18 November 2017Newcastle UnitedH4–1Martial 37', Smalling 45+1', Pogba 54', Lukaku 70'75,0352nd25 November 2017Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–0Dunk 66' (o.g.)75,0182nd28 November 2017WatfordA4–2Young (2) 19', 25', Martial 32', Lingard 86'20,5522nd2 December 2017ArsenalA3–1Valencia 4', Lingard (2) 11', 63'59,5472nd10 December 2017Manchester CityH1–2Rashford 45+2'74,8472nd13 December 2017BournemouthH1–0Lukaku 25'74,7982nd17 December 2017West Bromwich AlbionA2–1Lukaku 27', Lingard 35'24,7822nd23 December 2017Leicester CityA2–2Mata (2) 40', 60'32,2022nd26 December 2017BurnleyH2–2Lingard (2) 53', 90+1'75,0462nd30 December 2017SouthamptonH0–075,0513rd1 January 2018EvertonA2–0Martial 57', Lingard 81'39,1882nd15 January 2018Stoke CityH3–0Valencia 9', Martial 38', Lukaku 72'74,7262nd20 January 2018BurnleyA1–0Martial 54'21,8412nd31 January 2018Tottenham HotspurA0–281,9782nd3 February 2018Huddersfield TownH2–0Lukaku 55', Sánchez 68'74,7422nd11 February 2018Newcastle UnitedA0–152,3092nd25 February 2018ChelseaH2–1Lukaku 39', Lingard 75'75,0602nd5 March 2018Crystal PalaceA3–2Smalling 55', Lukaku 76', Matić 90+1'25,8402nd10 March 2018LiverpoolH2–1Rashford (2) 14', 24'74,8552nd31 March 2018Swansea CityH2–0Lukaku 5', Sánchez 20'75,0382nd7 April 2018Manchester CityA3–2Pogba (2) 53', 55', Smalling 69'54,2592nd15 April 2018West Bromwich AlbionH0–175,0952nd18 April 2018BournemouthA2–0Smalling 28', Lukaku 70'10,9522nd29 April 2018ArsenalH2–1Pogba 16', Fellaini 90+1'75,0352nd4 May 2018Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–130,6112nd10 May 2018West Ham UnitedA0–056,9022nd13 May 2018WatfordH1–0Rashford 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 / AResultF–AScorersAttendance5 January 2018Round 3Derby CountyH2–0Lingard 84', Lukaku 90'73,89926 January 2018Round 4Yeovil TownA4–0Rashford 41', Herrera 61', Lingard 89', Lukaku 90+3'9,19517 February 2018Round 5Huddersfield TownA2–0Lukaku (2) 3', 55'17,86117 March 2018Quarter-finalsBrighton & Hove AlbionH2–0Lukaku 37, Matić 83'74,42121 April 2018Semi-finalsTottenham HotspurN2–1Sánchez 24', Herrera 62'84,66719 May 2018FinalChelseaN0–187,647

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, 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 / AResultF–AScorersAttendance20 September 2017Round 3Burton AlbionH4–1Rashford (2) 5', 17', Lingard 36', Martial 60'54,25624 October 2017Round 4Swansea CityA2–0Lingard (2) 21', 59'20,08320 December 2017Round 5Bristol CityA1–2Ibrahimović 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 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.

DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendanceGroupposition12 September 2017BaselH3–0Fellaini 35', Lukaku 53', Rashford 84'73,8541st27 September 2017CSKA MoscowA4–1Lukaku (2) 4', 27', Martial 19' (pen.), Mkhitaryan 57'29,0731st18 October 2017BenficaA1–0Rashford 64'57,6841st31 October 2017BenficaH2–0Svilar 45' (o.g.), Blind 78' (pen.)74,4371st22 November 2017BaselA0–136,0001st5 December 2017CSKA MoscowH2–1Lukaku 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 / AResultF–AScorersAttendance21 February 2018Round of 16First legSevillaA0–039,72513 March 2018Round of 16Second legSevillaH1–2Lukaku 84'74,909

Squad statistics No.Pos.NameLeagueFA CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotalDisciplineAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals1GK David de Gea37020006010460002DF Victor Lindelöf13(4)03030501025(4)0103DF Eric Bailly11(2)11(1)000300015(3)1304DF Phil Jones23020000000250305DF Marcos Rojo8(1)01010100011(1)0606MF Paul Pogba25(2)630103(2)01033(4)6617FW Alexis Sánchez12241002000183208MF Juan Mata23(5)34(1)0105(1)00033(7)3109FW Romelu Lukaku33(1)163(3)50(2)0851145(6)274010FW Zlatan Ibrahimović1(4)000110(1)0002(5)10011FW Anthony Martial18(12)91(3)0314(4)10026(19)111012DF Chris Smalling28(1)4502(1)0801044(2)44014MF Jesse Lingard20(13)84(2)2233(3)01030(18)135015MF Andreas Pereira0000000000000016MF Michael Carrick (c)1(1)0201000004(1)00017DF Daley Blind4(3)01030610014(3)12018MF Ashley Young28(2)23(1)000400035(3)29019FW Marcus Rashford17(18)73(2)1323(5)30(1)026(26)137020GK Sergio Romero10403020001000021MF Ander Herrera13(13)042205(1)01025(14)26022MF Henrikh Mkhitaryan11(4)1100(1)03(1)11016(6)22023DF Luke Shaw8(3)0401(2)0100014(5)02025DF Antonio Valencia3133000401039310027MF Marouane Fellaini5(11)40(3)0002(1)10(1)07(16)51029FW James Wilson0000000000000031MF Nemanja Matić35(1)1410(1)06(1)01046(3)26035DF Demetri Mitchell0000000000000036DF Matteo Darmian5(3)01(1)0302(1)01012(5)01038DF Axel Tuanzebe0(1)000100(1)0001(2)01039MF Scott McTominay7(6)0302(1)02(2)00014(9)04040GK Joel Castro Pereira00000(1)000000(1)00043DF Cameron Borthwick-Jackson0000000000000045GK Kieran O'Hara0000000000000047MF Angel Gomes000(1)00000000(1)00048MF Ethan Hamilton00000000000000Own goals–1–0–0–1–0–2–– Statistics accurate as of 19 May 2018.

Transfers

In DatePos.NameFromFee1 July 2017DF Victor Lindelöf BenficaUndisclosed10 July 2017FW Romelu Lukaku EvertonUndisclosed31 July 2017MF Nemanja Matić ChelseaUndisclosed24 August 2017FW Zlatan IbrahimovićUnattached22 January 2018FW Alexis Sánchez ArsenalUndisclosed

Out DatePos.NameToFee30 June 2017FW Zlatan IbrahimovićReleased30 June 2017FW Kayne Diedrick-RobertsReleased30 June 2017MF Faustin MakelaReleased30 June 2017MF Josh Harrop Preston North EndUndisclosed9 July 2017FW Wayne Rooney EvertonUndisclosed12 July 2017MF Adnan Januzaj Real SociedadUndisclosed12 August 2017DF Guillermo Varela PeñarolUndisclosed22 January 2018MF Henrikh Mkhitaryan ArsenalUndisclosed22 March 2018FW Zlatan IbrahimovićReleased3 April 2018DF Harry Spratt Huddersfield TownFree3 April 2018DF Jake Barrett Huddersfield TownFree

Loan out Date fromDate toPos.NameTo7 July 201730 June 2018DF Regan Poole Northampton Town10 July 201730 June 2018GK Dean Henderson Shrewsbury Town14 July 201730 June 2018GK Sam Johnstone Aston Villa28 July 2017January 2018MF Devonte Redmond Scunthorpe United7 August 201716 January 2018DF Cameron Borthwick-Jackson Leeds United10 August 201730 June 2018DF Timothy Fosu-Mensah Crystal Palace31 August 201731 January 2018MF Matty Willock Utrecht1 September 201730 June 2018MF Andreas Pereira Valencia10 January 201830 June 2018FW James Wilson Sheffield United11 January 201830 June 2018DF Demetri Mitchell Heart of Midlothian25 January 201830 June 2018DF Axel Tuanzebe Aston Villa31 January 201830 June 2018MF Matty Willock St Johnstone31 January 201830 June 2018DF Charlie Scott Hamilton Academical

Notes

References