Man United 2023/24 season review and player ratings: Mainoo 9, Fernandes 8, Rashford 5

The Red Devils endure worst ever Premier League season but defeat Manchester City to win FA Cup final

MANCHESTER UNITED 2023/24 SEASON RATINGS: Injuries undoubtedly hit United’s season and they only relented in the final weeks. There were highs - winning the FA Cup - and lows - elimination from the ChShow more

A wretched start, a major reason why United went out of the Champions League with only one win from six, but how the Cameroonian turned it around. That was in spite of the players changing in front ofShow more

Named club's player’s player of the season, the Portuguese was one of the few players who improved as the team underachieved. Inspired daily by Cristiano Ronaldo, the full-back reckons he’s fitter, moShow more

Managed just 1,180 minutes (Dalot on the opposite flank managed 4,364) because of muscle injuries. He was back in the team when United won 4/4 February league games, then injured for the next one v FuShow more

A world-class defender on world-class wages who showed his quality in the FA Cup final and left on a high, but injuries, which pockmarked his time at United meant he started only 16 of 38 league gamesShow more

Top defender who, like Varane, proved that in the Cup final where he was disciplined, aggressive, motivated and passed through City’s lines. Yet he suffered from three serious injuries to his foot, knShow more

Out of the squad at the start of the season when he was linked with a move away from United, but ended up playing more minutes than any of United’s central defenders, despite having injuries himself. Show more

Was paid the minimum wage before he signed and when he did he barely expected to feature, yet injuries meant Evans ended up playing 1,593 minutes. Epic under siege at Anfield, devasated to miss LiverpShow more

Another central defender beset by injuries, first a groin and then a hamstring, he missed two big chunks of the season where he’d started in 12/15 opening league games. Scored the only goal in a 1-0 wShow more

Missed two significant blocks of the season to injury, but finished by starting the last 10 league games playing either left-back or right-back. Better on the right. A fine defender on his day, which Show more

Outstanding for the first half-hour in Munich – and that was about as good as it got for the on loan Spaniard who spent the first half of the season at Old Trafford. EPA

If Bournemouth away was the low point, then several decent home games showed that the youngster can play Premier League football. Injuries meant he got chances, talent should mean he’ll get more. AFP

A huge disappointment after last season when he was one of United’s best players. The Brazilian blamed injuries and being asked to play out of position, which he did not shirk. Fans are more circumspeShow more

A revelation of a breakthrough season from the academy graduate from Greater Manchester. He would have played much more had he not been injured pre-season, but his first Premier League start at EvertoShow more

A season of regression from the Dane who struggled to get off the bench after a 2-2 home draw against his former club Spurs in January. PA

Scored 10 goals in a low-scoring team, including key matchwinners. One of the most important starting players in a team that only finished eighth but beat Manchester City to lift the FA Cup. AP

Arrived late on loan following Mainoo’s injury and he selflessly played out of position when asked – at one point that meant as a left-back, but didn’t convince until the last five weeks of the seasonShow more

Optimism when he signed from Chelsea, yet he was a big, injury-hit, disappointment in his first season. A late goal back in West London at Brentford brought brief smiles, but he started only five leagShow more

His importance to Manchester United was shown when he was injured for late-season games, particularly at Crystal Palace. The captain scored 15 times and made 13 assists, winning the fans’ player of thShow more

Encouraging cameos for the young wide man, notably against Liverpool where he got the winner in an FA Cup match. That was the highlight of United’s season until the FA Cup final. Showed his skills agaShow more

Disappointing, especially given his huge fee. Best player on the pitch at Chelsea away and did well against Liverpool when he scored the key cup equaliser, but that’s nowhere near enough. EPA

What a season for the young winger. His overhead kick goal at Everton was the best of the season in the entire league, he played week in, week out - 50 times in total, with 39 consecutive starts - andShow more

Poor, by his standards. He scored 30 times last season and only eight this. Fans finally lost patience with him after his off-field indiscipline, yet he remains on a long and large contract. ExcellentShow more

A complete drain on United’s wage bill, he left the club after nine years this week. He didn’t ask to be injured, but United really needed help up front. PA

Sixteen goals in his first season in English football is impressive for a young striker. He had weeks and even months where he had little service, but his attitude remained first-class and he’ll surelShow more

Season synopsis

Premier League final position: 8th

Champions League: Eliminated in the group stage, with one win from six.

FA Cup: Winners, defeating Manchester City in the final.

League Cup: Fourth round, knocked out by Newcastle United.

Performance of the season

Manchester City 1 Manchester United 2: Tactically perfect against an opponent considered close to footballing perfection. Every selection made by Erik ten Hag – including some huge calls such as Sofyan Amrabat over Casemiro – worked. They were all helped by the 4-2-2-2 (or 4-2-4) tactics, which were defending in smaller zones and spaces and not exposing substandard or not fully fit players.

That meant that Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Amrabat and Marcus Rashford were all protected by the tactics – they would have struggled had United been asked to press all over the pitch. United went in hard with this strategy, and it worked like a dream with every player excelling.

Worst performance of the season

Crystal Palace 4 Manchester United 0: Just awful, from start to finish. United were loaded with injuries and had to play midfielder Casemiro as a central defender alongside Evans, who’d only been back in training for two days after five weeks out. The United side struggled against Palace’s direct and physical style and were 2-0 down at half time, a deficit which had doubled by the 66th minute.

The travelling fans, however, saved their best performance of the season for the night at a hard to reach Selhurst Park, singing long after the final whistle in support of their club.

Thriller of season

Manchester United 4 Liverpool 3: Liverpool were clear favourites to come to Old Trafford and knock Erik ten Hag’s side out of the FA Cup. Liverpool still had a chance of a treble. Yet United took the lead before the scoring went 1-0, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2 (Antony in the 87th minute), 2-3 (Harvey Elliot, and how 9,000 travelling fans loved it), 3-3 before Amad Diallo scored a 102nd minute winner.

“We didn’t really get control of the game, so the manager told us to be more aggressive,” said Harry Maguire afterwards. He put on an attacker and basically said, ‘Go man for man.’ I was up against the striker, full-backs against the wingers, man for man all over the pitch. It worked. It enabled us to get a bit higher up the pitch, put a bit more pressure on, because there was a period in the second half when I felt like we were letting the game drift away a little. Credit to the manager to see and recognise that.”

When Jurgen Klopp had calmed down after the game, he was quite magnanimous.

“We go 3-2 up, all good,” said the German. “Then they score, 3-3, 4-3. Come on, easily can accept that, congratulations to United, they fought extremely hard as well. That’s how it is … ”

The reaction of United’s players to Amad scoring the winner was joyous for several reasons. On one level, the obvious one – a last minute extra time winner in front of the Stretford End to make it 4-3 against Liverpool was the best moment of the season so far. But they were also delighted for Amad who’d had a difficult journey to Manchester and who felt he deserved more chances this season. After his winner against Liverpool, he’d get them.

Player of season

Diogo Dalot: The bar was set low by Manchester United’s previously high standards, but Dalot, 25, played 50 times for United in season 2023-24 and just staying fit was a big plus. And he usually played well. Diogo is quick, his strength and endurance has improved. He’s strong. He’s developed into a strong, multifaceted asset.

He’s sociable and connects with everyone in the squad. His English is excellent to bond with the English lads, but he gets on really well with the Portuguese and Spanish speakers. Cristiano Ronaldo had a big impact on him. Diogo was on awe of Cristiano, but in a good way to learn how to be a top footballer and they’re now friends.

Goal of season

Alejandro Garnacho v Everton: It’s November 2023 and Manchester United are under serious pressure as they travel to Everton who having been docked 10 points, need a win. Garnacho starts while a Youth cup teammate, Kobbie Mainoo, makes his Premier League debut. Goodison Park is febrile, fans protest with red cards calling the Premier League corrupt.

They are silenced minutes into the game by Garnacho’s overhead free-kick which sails into the Park End goal. It’s wondrous, a rare high in a season of lows and 3,000 Reds in the Bullens Road break out into ‘Viva Garnacho’ – to the tune of his hero ‘Viva Ronaldo’.