Manchester United defied expectations by securing a third-place finish in the 2025/26 Premier League season.
After a club-worst 15th-place finish in the 2024/25 season, optimism and ambition was hard to come by at Manchester United.
Ruben Amorim promised good times were ahead, and he led the Red Devils up to sixth before he was sacked in January.
But it was under Michael Carrick where the Red Devils truly stepped up, securing Champions League qualification and a third-place finish. At the start of the season, that was unimaginable.
Man Utd had just 2% chance of finishing third in 2025/26
At the start of the season, the expectations were for United were mixed. Roy Keane predicted a ninth-place finish, while Paul Scholes predicted sixth.
According to Opta’s supercomputer, United’s chances of finishing third sat at just two percent.
United were given less than 1% chance of winning the league, and the most likely finishing position was calculated to be 13th.
When that is considered, United have massively exceeded expectations and defied the odds.
At one point in the season, there was even talk of United in a title race with Manchester City and Arsenal. Michael Carrick picked up more points than any other manager since he was appointed as interim head coach.
Man United’s expectations for 2026/27
The 2025/26 season can be considered a huge success on and off the pitch, and now United are preparing to head into a new season with Carrick at the helm.
United played only 40 matches in 2025/26 because they crashed out of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup at the first hurdle.
Next season, that cannot be repeated. United will compete on four fronts, including the Champions League.
READ MORE: Man Utd have £250m war chest as ‘big window’ claim issued by finance expert
Carrick will be expected to at least qualify for the Champions League again and challenge for trophies across the other competitions.
Ineos want to win the Premier League by 2028, so challenging for the title will be expected sooner rather than later.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/C0RBVQG