Looking back at everything you need to know from the 2001/02 Manchester United season.
The 2001/02 campaign has plenty of drama, but Manchester United failed to secure any major silverware for the first time in four years.
The Red Devils finished 10 points adrift of champions Arsenal, who secured the title by beating Sir Alex Ferguson’s side at Old Trafford in the penultimate game of the season.
Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson
Perhaps the biggest achievement of the season was reaching the Champions League semi-finals before being eliminated by German outfit Bayer Leverkusen on away goals (3-3 aggregate).
Meanwhile, United were knocked out early in the FA Cup and League Cup.
Ruud van Nistelrooy celebrates against Fulham
Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images
Season outcome and top scorer
Premier League position: Third
Points total: 77
FA Cup: Fourth round
League Cup: Third round
Champions League: Semi-finals
Trophies: 0
Ruud van Nistelrooy finished the season as United’s top scorer with 36 goals. The Dutch striker scored 23 goals in the Premier League.
Top scorer: Ruud van Nistelrooy – 36
Signings
Juan Sebastian Veron
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Diego Forlan
Roy Carroll
Luke Steele
Jimmy Davis
Laurent Blanc
Kieran Richardson
Memorable matches
Tottenham 3-5 Manchester United
This will go down as one of the greatest comebacks in Premier League history.
United went in at half-time losing 3-0 following goals from Dean Richards, Les Ferdinand, and Christian Ziege.
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Ferguson gave a stern team talk at the break, which worked wonders as United scored five unanswered goals in the second half.
The goalscorers that day were Andy Cole, Laurent Blanc, Van Nistelrooy, Juan Sebastian Veron, and David Beckham.
Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal
Late in the season at Old Trafford, this was the effective title showdown. A win would have kept United in the title race, but Arsenal, who had a game in hand, required a draw to be crowned champions.
The only goal was scored by Sylvain Wiltord in the 57th minute.
Arsenal’s triumph ended United’s run of three consecutive Premier League titles.
West Ham 3-5 Manchester United
United’s attacking threat was clear to see from this eight-goal thriller.
Beckham scored a brace while Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also got their names on the scoresheet.
It was one of the finest attacking displays of the season.
Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Manchester United
After drawing the first leg 2-2 at Old Trafford, Bayer Leverkusen had the advantage of two away goals, which proved decisive in the Champions League semi-final tie.
Roy Keane scored the opener for United, but Oliver Neuville equalised for Leverkusen. This meant United missed out on a place in the final due to the away goals rule.
This result came as a huge disappointment to Ferguson and the team.
What else happened in 2001/02?
It cannot be understated that uncertainty over Ferguson’s future as manager hurt the team that season, before reversing his decision, citing his family as the reason.
Van Nistelrooy had a phenomenal debut season, topping the goalscoring charts in the Premier League and Champions League.
Furthermore, Van Nistelrooy was voted the PFA Players’ Player of the Year.
United were the highest scoring team in the Premier League with 87 goals.