Manchester United have plunged to a new historic low following their early exit from the FA Cup, breaking two unenviable records that stretch back decades.
A Night of Unwanted History
Darren Fletcher's side were eliminated from the FA Cup in the third round on Sunday night, losing 2-1 to Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford. Former United striker Danny Welbeck was instrumental in the defeat, scoring one goal and setting up another. This result, combined with their Carabao Cup penalty shootout loss to League Two's Grimsby Town earlier this season, means United have been knocked out of both domestic cup competitions at the first time of asking.
According to Opta, this is the first season since the 1981-82 campaign – 44 years ago – that the club has suffered this fate. With no European football this term, Erik ten Hag's squad now has only the Premier League to focus on, where they currently languish in seventh place.
The Fewest Games in Over a Century
The situation is even more stark when considering the club's fixture list. Statistician Will Jeanes highlighted on X that United will play just 40 matches in all competitions this season. This represents their fewest number of games in a campaign since the 1914-15 season, 111 years ago, when they played 39. This statistic excludes seasons impacted by war.
This meagre tally of 38 Premier League games and two domestic cup fixtures is a far cry from the packed schedules of the Sir Alex Ferguson era, when the club regularly competed on four fronts. Had United won last season's Europa League final against Tottenham, they could have faced up to 66 matches this campaign if they reached every final. Even without Champions League football, a maximum of 51 games was possible.
Ferguson's Horror and Fletcher's Uncertain Future
The club's legendary former manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, watched Sunday's defeat from the directors' box alongside ex-players Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, his dismay evident. His presence at the club has recently been a topic of controversy, with former captain Roy Keane describing Ferguson and ex-chief executive David Gill as a "bad smell" for their lingering influence.
The result is unlikely to aid interim boss Darren Fletcher's prospects of securing the role permanently. After a 2-2 draw with Burnley and the loss to Brighton, the club is now expected to turn to either Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Michael Carrick to steer the team until a permanent appointment is made in the summer. United are searching for their seventh permanent manager since Ferguson retired 13 years ago.
All eyes now turn to the Manchester derby at Old Trafford this Saturday, with United's season – already one for the wrong kind of history books – hanging by a thread.
