It’s been an awful season for Manchester United, who are destined to finish in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
This time last year, we were saying the same thing after Manchester United finished eighth in the Premier League, but still managed to win the FA Cup after beating Manchester City 2-1 at Wembley.
That result saw Ineos mistakenly give Erik ten Hag a one-year extension deal, only to dismiss the Dutchman by Halloween following a disastrous start to the 2024/25 campaign.
A year on and United could finish as low as 17th in the league, after reaching the Europa League final in Bilbao, where they will face Tottenham. That has completely taken the focus away from domestic form at Old Trafford, with all eyes on beating Premier League opposition in Europe to keep an unbeaten record alive.
Ruben Amorim will hope to win his first European Cup as a coach and it would be his first trophy as United’s head coach.
Five contenders for the Manchester United Player of the Year award
Although United have massively underperformed this season, the United first-team will still receive awards for some of their performances.
United fans have been encouraged to vote for the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award and the Goal of the Season award, which involves voting on a poll on the club’s website and app.
Bruno Fernandes is a contender for the award this season, after winning it for a third time last year. He could join David de Gea and Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players to have won the Sir Matt Busby award four times.
Also in the running is Amad Diallo, following an impressive breakthrough season. The Ivory Coast international went from being overlooked by Erik ten Hag to starring under Amorim.
The other three contenders should include Harry Maguire, Noussair Mazraoui and Casemiro for multiple reasons.
Maguire’s resurgence as a leader in the United dressing room was epitomised by United’s run to the Europa League final and is likely to remain at the club following a decent campaign. None of the new signings made as much of an impact as Mazraoui and Casemiro’s recent run of form under Amorim deserves a mention, but isn’t going to prise the award away from the other contenders.
Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year multiple winners
Only a select few players have won the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award more than once.
None have won it as many times as David de Gea and Cristiano Ronaldo, while Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Wayne Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy all won it on two occasions.
- Four times – David de Gea, Cristiano Ronaldo
- Three times – Bruno Fernandes
- Two times – Eric Cantona, Brian McClair, Roy Keane, Wayne Rooney, Ruud van Nistelrooy
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