Reaching two domestic cup finals means Manchester United will play 61 games this season. Only three other times in United’s history has the team played more than 60: Jose Mourinho’s first season, 2016/17, in which the 64 matches included winning the Europa League and League Cup, then 2020/21 and reaching the final of the Europa League. In 2008/09, United played an astonishing total of 66.
Next week will be the first since the international break when United haven’t had a midweek game. Every single permitted midweek space has been used this year for matches. United played eight games in January and the same in February. In April there were nine, a figure which would have been matched had United reached the Europa League final this month.
Little wonder that some key players have been injured. Playing six games in May is a drop off from recent months, but manager Erik ten Hag maintains his team are coping with the schedule.
“It has had an impact on the whole season but we are doing quite well,” he said ahead of Sunday’s away game at relegation threatened West Ham, the fifth long-distance away game in 18 days. “Not quite well, we’re doing really well. We had a big disadvantage against others, but West Ham is a team with a worst schedule than us. We have shown all season that we can deal with that. We are physically and mentally very strong.”
Though they haven’t played as many games as Manchester United this season, West Ham are still in Europe and play AZ twice in the Europa Conference League semi-finals this month. Those games, like the Europa League matches, are played on a Thursday evening. Manchester United’s aim is to be playing Champions League games on a Tuesday and Wednesday next season.
“It’s a great advantage playing in the Champions League, you have a better week,” said Ten Hag. But to do so, United, who are in fourth, must stay in the top four. Liverpool, in fifth, have played one game more and are four points behind, but are on a winning run of five matches.
West Ham on Sunday is one of five games remaining for United, with Wolves at home, Bournemouth away, and Chelsea and Fulham at home to follow. Asked whether his players had become complacent after Thursday’s defeat at Brighton, Ten Hag said: “I’m telling them in every training that you have to be ready for every game in the Premier League.
Brighton v Man United player ratings
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BRIGHTON RATINGS: Jason Steele 8: Good saves from Rashford, Antony and Martial in first half. And again after break from Fernandes. Excellent night’s work from goalkeeper. AP -
Moises Caicedo 7: Midfielder started at right-back due to injuries and grew into the role as match went on. Left for dead by Rashford in first half and needed Steele to produce decent stop. Booked for foul on Fernandes late on but was then denied injury-time goal by De Gea save. AFP -
Adam Webster 7: Saw header from corner saved by Ge Gea inside 20 minutes as defender looked to score first goal since February 2022. Booked for late tackle on Fernandes which was correct call despite his protests. Getty -
Lewis Dunk 7: Captain was nutmegged by Rashford early doors who then created chance for Fernandes who could only fire well over. Booked for confronting Antony after United winger chopped down Mac Allister. Immense in the air when United put crosses into box. AFP -
Pervis Estupinan 8: One magnificent recovery challenge to take ball off Rashford with United attacker almost through on goal which summed up Ecuadorian’s impressive performance at the back. AP -
Billy Gilmour 6: Caught in possession in first couple of minutes which nearly resulted in Antony scoring. Mixed bag distribution wise from midfielder, some lovely balls to feet at times, but also guilty of over-hitting passes and wasting counter-attacks. Certainly no faulting his workrate. AP -
Julio Enciso 8: Paraguayan teenager is enjoying run in starting XI and is real livewire in possession. Struck a nice effort just wide in first half, but fired another shot high and wide after skipping easily past Casemiro. Getty -
Alexis Mac Allister 8: Argentine, who has been linked with move to United, curled shot just after half-hour mark. On receiving end of some poor tackles from Casemiro and Antony. Denied late winner by fine De Gea save but then calmly smashed penalty into top corner nine minutes into injury-time. AP -
Kaoru Mitoma 7: Clean through in opening five minutes but shot straight at De Gea’s face. Side-footed another chance just wide not long after cutting inside from left. Shot cleared off line in injury-time. Could be a world-beater if he learns to shoot with his left peg as he is ridiculously right footed. AFP -
Facundo Buonanotte 7: Produced a lovely curling strike from an acute angle that flew wide of target but had De Gear at full stretch just before half-time. Given standing ovation for his efforts when he came off after break. Getty -
Danny Welbeck 6: Striker has scored four goals in last six league games but never had sight of goal against former club until just before hour mark when his struck first-time shot wide. Some decent link-up play in second half. AP -
SUBS: Solly March (On for Buonanotte 63’) 7: Missed key penalty in League Cup final shoot-out defeat against United but was nearly the hero here with one sensational run forward that ended with him thumping shot wide. AP -
Deniz Undav (On for Welbeck 75’) 6: One shot deflected wide for corner by Shaw. Getty -
Levi Colwill (On for Gilmour 75’) 6: Chelsea loan man booked for tripping Sabitzer within two minutes of coming on. AFP -
MAN UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea 7: Saved from Mitoma with his face on three minutes and looked out for the count. No chance for Mac Allister’s penalty. In between, he made several fine saves and was about to register his eighth clean sheet in United’s last 11 league games until late spot-kick. Getty -
Aaron Wan-Bissaka 7: Usually excellent in one v ones, but work cut out against Mitoma in a fascinating battle. Cleared a 21st minute cross away. Left his position to attack at the end of the first half. Nutmegged by Gilmour. AFP -
Victor Lindelof 7: Playing well and he did again but gave the ball away to Mitoma on three minutes and was fortunate Brighton didn’t take the chance. AP -
Luke Shaw 7: Another who is playing well. Harshly received a yellow card in injury-time after a nothing challenge on Encisco, but his handball in the final moments of the game led to a Brighton penalty … and another United away defeat against a top ten side. PA -
Diogo Dalot 7: Played at left-back away from his natural position and lost the ball after 54 minutes to set up Mitoma. Booked. Then he got the ball caught under his feet. All inside six minutes. Atrocious ball saw him concede possession and an attack break down on 71. AP -
Casemiro 6: Fired 10th minute effort towards Gatwick Airport, then dispossessed by Gilmour, then gave the ball away on 14. Headed over just before half-hour mark, then did his usual heavy tackle on Mac Allister. Got away with a second booking in the second half and also curled a shot over. Getty -
Fred 5: Easily dispossessed on 67 by Caidedo, the man he was outclassed by. AFP -
Antony 6: Put a clear chance wide in second minute and again on 20. Couldn’t get into the game and faded in the second half. Lost his head and was booked in second half for a swinging challenge on Mac Allister. United don’t score enough goals. It’s a major problem. PA -
Bruno Fernandes 6: Wonder ball forward to Rashford in opening 20 minutes. Was in space as Rashford broke before half time. Heavily challenged by Webster, who was booked. Shot on in second half. Reuters -
Marcus Rashford 6: Lovely play in the build-up to a 10th minute attack. Beautiful as he went past Caiciedo and shot on target just before half-hour. Rapid but should have passed to Fernandes in the first half. PA -
Anthony Martial 5: His manager didn’t feel like he was doing enough, but there were moments – a well-timed run to set up Antony on 20 minutes. Worked a move well with Fred before firing a shot at Steele later in half. A couple of fleet-footed moments in the second half, but his boss was right. Reuters -
SUBS: Jadon Sancho (On for Antony 76’) N/A. Getty -
Marcel Sabitzer (On for Fred 76’) N/A. PA -
Wout Weghorst (On for Martial 83') N/A. PA
"If you want to be in three or four competitions you have to be so well prepared. You need so much energy, a good game plan. You have to go every game. You can’t do it at 99 per cent, you have to do 100 per cent. You have to do it over the 95 minutes, that’s why top players like it, to have huge challenges and it costs energy. That’s our job, our responsibility. On Sunday, we go again.”
They go against a side managed by former United manager David Moyes. Asked for his thoughts on Moyes, who replaced the legendary Alex Ferguson, Ten Hag said: “It’s clear that when you have to succeed Sir Alex it’s a big challenge. It’s a difficult job to do. He did it, he had the bravery to do it and I admire that.
"He’s also had a lot of clubs in the Premier League, he’s a great manager with a lot of skills. Our team has to play at our maximum.”
If they don’t, Manchester United could be staring at yet another away defeat in a crucial part of the season in which they still have a punishing schedule.
