Manchester United 2020/21 review: Progress but trophyless | OneFootball

Manchester United exceeded expectations in the league in 2020/21, but that first piece of silverware as manager for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer remains elusive.

Here’s our review of the season.

Competition breakdown

Premier League – 2nd

Few predicted a runners-up finish for United before the campaign began and even fewer fancied them when they were beaten 6-1 at home by Tottenham in the second game.

But Solskjaer’s side ultimately went the whole season unbeaten away from home in the league, and had they been able to turn some of their 11 draws into victories, they would have run Manchester City very close for the title.

Champions League – Eliminated at the group stage

The major black mark against their season was a disappointing early exit from the Champions League.

They were in a tough group with Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig, but it was ultimately an away defeat to İstanbul Başakşehir which did the damage.

Europa League – Runners-up

Dropping out of the Champions League saw United enter the Europa League, and they overcame the likes of AC Milan and Roma in an impressive run to the final.

But a disappointing performance in Gdansk culminated with them being beaten on penalties by Villarreal, with goalkeeper David de Gea missing the decisive spot-kick. Painful.

FA Cup and League Cup

Unfortunately it wasn’t a season to remember for United on the domestic cup front. They were eliminated by rivals City in the Carabao Cup semi-final before losing to Leicester at the quarter-final stage of the FA Cup.

Player of the season: Bruno Fernandes

18 goals, 11 assists and 95 chances created in the Premier League this season. There simply isn’t a more influential player in England than Bruno and United must build their team around him in the coming years.

Game of the season: Manchester City 0-2 Manchester United

It wasn’t enough to stop City winning the league but United’s victory at the Etihad in March halted their rivals winning run and proved they were capable of beating the best team in the league. It’s a result to build upon for next season.

Top goalscorer: Bruno Fernandes

Yes he takes the penalties but he scored some scorchers, with that dipping lop against Everton being the pick of the bunch.

Rising star: Mason Greenwood

The future is bright for United with the likes of Amad Diallo, Shola Shoretire and Anthony Elanga waiting in the wings, but for now young Greenwood is showing them how it’s done.

The 19-year-old has already got 17 goals for United, making him the club’s highest scoring teenager in the Premier League era.

And more importantly, he hasn’t looked out of place at one of the world’s biggest clubs for a single second.