Manchester United endured their worst ever Premier League campaign in 2024-25, and the side’s poor performances have placed more pressure on boss Ruben Amorim.
The Red Devils started last term with Erik ten Hag at the helm despite the Dutchman disappointing in 2023-24, guiding the club to eighth place with just 60 points.
However, though they dismissed Ten Hag and appointed Amorim in November 2024, the club ended the most recent season in 15th place with 42 points.
To make matters worse, the Red Devils were also beaten by Tottenham Hotspur – who finished 17th – in the Europa League final and missed out on the chance of Champions League football.
Here, Sports Mole examines what went wrong for Manchester United, and analyse how they can avoid another disastrous campaign.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim on May 21, 2025
The numbers behind 2024-25
United’s placement and points tally were both respectively the worst the team have managed in the history of the Premier League.
In fact, the club’s 18 top-flight defeats was their most in a season since 1973-74, when they were relegated from the old First Division.
Amorim’s side ranked as the league’s fifth worst offensive team having found the back of the net just 44 times, with only Everton (42) and the bottom three scoring fewer.
The team’s return in the final third was again their worst tally since 1973-74 (38), and it should be highlighted that they failed to score in 15 of their 38 Premier League matches.
At the other end of the pitch, their record of 54 goals conceded was only the joint 11th best of the 20 sides in the top flight.
While their defensive displays have not been nearly as concerning as their attacking performances, they will still need to improve at the back if they have ambitions of challenging for Europe next term.
Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund with Joshua Zirkzee on October 30, 2024
Priorities
United must strengthen considerably in attack, and they have already secured the services of attacking midfielder Matheus Cunha, and they are reportedly in negotiations to sign Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo.
However, they could face the prospect of competition for the forward given Brentford boss Thomas Frank is being targeted by Tottenham Hotspur for their vacant managerial position, and some outlets have claimed that Frank would want to bring Mbeumo to Spurs.
Striker Rasmus Hojlund has recently insisted that he sees his future at Old Trafford, but it is difficult to see the club sticking by him given he scored just four goals in the Premier League last term.
With news that Victor Osimhen’s proposed move to the Saudi Pro League has collapsed, perhaps a deal could be struck with Napoli to bring the striker to England, especially as the Serie A side are said to hold interest in Alejandro Garnacho.
Sporting Lisbon number nine Viktor Gyokeres was reported to be a target of Arsenal, but now that the Gunners appear to have approached RB Leipzig for Benjamin Sesko, there may be an opportunity for the Red Devils to sign the Sporting attacker.
Bringing in another centre-back could help improve United’s defensive situation, particularly as Amorim’s 3-4-3 system utilises three central defenders and he was forced to use the likes of Noussair Mazraoui in the heart of defence last season due to a lack of options at the back.
Having said that, it is imperative that the club do not block the pathway of youngsters Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven, who have both shown promise in their fledgling careers at Old Trafford so far.
Perhaps the addition of a defensive midfielder would be a sensible use of funds in order to phase out the ageing Casemiro, and to take the burden off of Manuel Ugarte, who struggled at times in 2024-25.
Bryan Mbeumo of Brentford during his side's match against Wolverhampton Wanderers, on May 25, 2025
What happens if Amorim fails?
Should Amorim be backed and fail to get the most out of the squad at his disposal, or if the club’s signings fail to settle, there is a risk that the Red Devils could soon be left behind by the rest of the division.
The likes of Newcastle United and Aston Villa have made significant progress in recent years, and they both look set to regularly challenge for Europe.
Tottenham will almost certainly improve upon their poor showings from last season, while Manchester City will likely continue to invest significantly in their team.
At the top of the table, Liverpool boss Arne Slot may be given a sizeable transfer budget in hopes of establishing a dynasty, and their closest challengers Arsenal have proven their credentials for a number of years.
United must take the necessary steps to avoid a repeat of 2024-25, as failure to do so could be catastrophic for the direction of the club for years to come.
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