# 2017–18 Manchester United F.C. season

The 2017–18 season was Manchester United's 26th season in the Premier League and their 43rd consecutive season in the top flight of English football. The season was the first since 2003–04 without former club captain Wayne Rooney, who rejoined Everton after 13 seasons with United, during which time he overtook Bobby Charlton as their all-time top scorer. United also returned to the Champions League after a single season's absence, having won the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League.
United achieved their highest points total and league placing since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, amassing 81 points to finish second in the Premier League. However, despite winning three cups the previous season, the club failed to secure silverware this time around, also finishing as runners-up in both the UEFA Super Cup and FA Cup. United also suffered disappointing exits in both the EFL Cup and Champions League, bowing out to Bristol City and Sevilla respectively by 2–1 scorelines. Throughout the season, despite having a wealth of attacking options and completing the signing of Alexis Sánchez in January, manager José Mourinho was criticised by sections of the media and a section of United supporters for a perceived negative playing style.

## Pre-season and friendlies

United preceded their 2017–18 campaign with a tour of the United States, which included the first Manchester derby to be played outside the United Kingdom, in the International Champions Cup. The tour also included games against Real Madrid and Barcelona. The US tour started against LA Galaxy on 15 July 2017. United then faced Vålerenga in Norway. The final preparations during pre-season included a trip to the Republic of Ireland to face Sampdoria.
| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 16 July 2017 | LA Galaxy | A | 5–2 | Rashford (2) 2', 20', Fellaini 26', Mkhitaryan 67', Martial 72' | 25,667 |
| 18 July 2017 | Real Salt Lake | A | 2–1 | Mkhitaryan 29', Lukaku 38' | 20,241 |
| 21 July 2017 | Manchester City | N | 2–0 | Lukaku 37', Rashford 39' | 67,401 |
| 23 July 2017 | Real Madrid | N | 1–1 (2–1p) | Lingard 45+1' | 65,109 |
| 27 July 2017 | Barcelona | N | 0–1 | | 80,162 |
| 30 July 2017 | Vålerenga | A | 3–0 | Fellaini 44', Lukaku 47', McTominay 70' | 25,137 |
| 2 August 2017 | Sampdoria | N | 2–1 | Mkhitaryan 9', Mata 81' | 50,000 |

## UEFA Super Cup

Manchester United, as winners of the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League faced Real Madrid, winners of the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League for the 2017 UEFA Super Cup on 8 August 2017, at the Philip II Arena in Skopje, Macedonia.
| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 8 August 2017 | Real Madrid | N | 1–2 | Lukaku 62' | 30,421 |

## Premier League

The Premier League season began on 11 August 2017 and concluded on 13 May 2018. Michael Carrick played his final match against Watford as captain. He was subbed off in the 85th minute for Paul Pogba. He also received a guard of honour from both sets of players before the kick-off. This was also his 464th appearance for United.
| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance | League position |
| 13 August 2017 | West Ham United | H | 4–0 | Lukaku (2) 33', 52', Martial 87', Pogba 90' | 74,928 | 1st |
| 19 August 2017 | Swansea City | A | 4–0 | Bailly 45', Lukaku 80', Pogba 82', Martial 84' | 20,862 | 1st |
| 26 August 2017 | Leicester City | H | 2–0 | Rashford 70', Fellaini 82' | 75,021 | 1st |
| 9 September 2017 | Stoke City | A | 2–2 | Rashford 45+1', Lukaku 57' | 29,320 | 1st |
| 17 September 2017 | Everton | H | 4–0 | Valencia 4', Mkhitaryan 83', Lukaku 89', Martial 90+2' (pen.) | 75,042 | 2nd |
| 23 September 2017 | Southampton | A | 1–0 | Lukaku 20' | 31,930 | 2nd |
| 30 September 2017 | Crystal Palace | H | 4–0 | Mata 3', Fellaini (2) 35', 49', Lukaku 86' | 75,118 | 2nd |
| 14 October 2017 | Liverpool | A | 0–0 | | 52,912 | 2nd |
| 21 October 2017 | Huddersfield Town | A | 1–2 | Rashford 78' | 24,426 | 2nd |
| 28 October 2017 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 1–0 | Martial 81' | 75,034 | 2nd |
| 5 November 2017 | Chelsea | A | 0–1 | | 41,615 | 2nd |
| 18 November 2017 | Newcastle United | H | 4–1 | Martial 37', Smalling 45+1', Pogba 54', Lukaku 70' | 75,035 | 2nd |
| 25 November 2017 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 1–0 | Dunk 66' (o.g.) | 75,018 | 2nd |
| 28 November 2017 | Watford | A | 4–2 | Young (2) 19', 25', Martial 32', Lingard 86' | 20,552 | 2nd |
| 2 December 2017 | Arsenal | A | 3–1 | Valencia 4', Lingard (2) 11', 63' | 59,547 | 2nd |
| 10 December 2017 | Manchester City | H | 1–2 | Rashford 45+2' | 74,847 | 2nd |
| 13 December 2017 | Bournemouth | H | 1–0 | Lukaku 25' | 74,798 | 2nd |
| 17 December 2017 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 2–1 | Lukaku 27', Lingard 35' | 24,782 | 2nd |
| 23 December 2017 | Leicester City | A | 2–2 | Mata (2) 40', 60' | 32,202 | 2nd |
| 26 December 2017 | Burnley | H | 2–2 | Lingard (2) 53', 90+1' | 75,046 | 2nd |
| 30 December 2017 | Southampton | H | 0–0 | | 75,051 | 3rd |
| 1 January 2018 | Everton | A | 2–0 | Martial 57', Lingard 81' | 39,188 | 2nd |
| 15 January 2018 | Stoke City | H | 3–0 | Valencia 9', Martial 38', Lukaku 72' | 74,726 | 2nd |
| 20 January 2018 | Burnley | A | 1–0 | Martial 54' | 21,841 | 2nd |
| 31 January 2018 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 0–2 | | 81,978 | 2nd |
| 3 February 2018 | Huddersfield Town | H | 2–0 | Lukaku 55', Sánchez 68' | 74,742 | 2nd |
| 11 February 2018 | Newcastle United | A | 0–1 | | 52,309 | 2nd |
| 25 February 2018 | Chelsea | H | 2–1 | Lukaku 39', Lingard 75' | 75,060 | 2nd |
| 5 March 2018 | Crystal Palace | A | 3–2 | Smalling 55', Lukaku 76', Matić 90+1' | 25,840 | 2nd |
| 10 March 2018 | Liverpool | H | 2–1 | Rashford (2) 14', 24' | 74,855 | 2nd |
| 31 March 2018 | Swansea City | H | 2–0 | Lukaku 5', Sánchez 20' | 75,038 | 2nd |
| 7 April 2018 | Manchester City | A | 3–2 | Pogba (2) 53', 55', Smalling 69' | 54,259 | 2nd |
| 15 April 2018 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 0–1 | | 75,095 | 2nd |
| 18 April 2018 | Bournemouth | A | 2–0 | Smalling 28', Lukaku 70' | 10,952 | 2nd |
| 29 April 2018 | Arsenal | H | 2–1 | Pogba 16', Fellaini 90+1' | 75,035 | 2nd |
| 4 May 2018 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 0–1 | | 30,611 | 2nd |
| 10 May 2018 | West Ham United | A | 0–0 | | 56,902 | 2nd |
| 13 May 2018 | Watford | H | 1–0 | Rashford 34' | 75,049 | 2nd |
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Manchester City (C) | 38 | 32 | 4 | 2 | 106 | 27 | +79 | 100 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage |
| 2 | Manchester United | 38 | 25 | 6 | 7 | 68 | 28 | +40 | 81 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage |
| 3 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | 23 | 8 | 7 | 74 | 36 | +38 | 77 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage |
| 4 | Liverpool | 38 | 21 | 12 | 5 | 84 | 38 | +46 | 75 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage |
| 5 | Chelsea | 38 | 21 | 7 | 10 | 62 | 38 | +24 | 70 | Qualification for the Europa League group stage |
* ↑ Since the winners of the 2017–18 FA Cup (Chelsea) and the winners of the 2017–18 EFL Cup (Manchester City) both qualified for European competition based on their league positions, the berths awarded to the 5th-placed team (Europa League group stage) and the League Cup winners (Europa League second qualifying round) were passed down the league.

## FA Cup

Manchester United entered the FA Cup in the third round as all 20 Premier League clubs automatically received a bye to that stage. Matches were played between 5–8 January 2018.
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 5 January 2018 | Round 3 | Derby County | H | 2–0 | Lingard 84', Lukaku 90' | 73,899 |
| 26 January 2018 | Round 4 | Yeovil Town | A | 4–0 | Rashford 41', Herrera 61', Lingard 89', Lukaku 90+3' | 9,195 |
| 17 February 2018 | Round 5 | Huddersfield Town | A | 2–0 | Lukaku (2) 3', 55' | 17,861 |
| 17 March 2018 | Quarter-finals | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 2–0 | Lukaku 37, Matić 83' | 74,421 |
| 21 April 2018 | Semi-finals | Tottenham Hotspur | N | 2–1 | Sánchez 24', Herrera 62' | 84,667 |
| 19 May 2018 | Final | Chelsea | N | 0–1 | | 87,647 |

## EFL Cup

Manchester United entered the EFL Cup as holders, having beaten Southampton in the 2017 final. As one of the seven clubs that qualified for European competition in 2017–18, they entered the EFL Cup in the third round, the draw for which was held on 24 August, with Manchester United being paired with Championship club Burton Albion. The two sides last met in the third round of the 2005–06 FA Cup, with United winning a replay 5–0 at Old Trafford following a goalless draw at the Pirelli Stadium. The fourth round draw confirmed the Red Devils visited Swansea City. The fifth round draw was held on 26 October 2017, with United drawn against another Championship side Bristol City.
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 20 September 2017 | Round 3 | Burton Albion | H | 4–1 | Rashford (2) 5', 17', Lingard 36', Martial 60' | 54,256 |
| 24 October 2017 | Round 4 | Swansea City | A | 2–0 | Lingard (2) 21', 59' | 20,083 |
| 20 December 2017 | Round 5 | Bristol City | A | 1–2 | Ibrahimović 58' | 26,088 |

## UEFA Champions League
### Group stage

Manchester United qualified for the group stage of the Champions League as winners of the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League and were placed in pot 2 for the group stage draw. The draw was made on 24 August 2017, with Manchester United drawn alongside Benfica, Basel and CSKA Moscow. United were previously drawn with both Benfica and Basel in 2011–12, and with CSKA Moscow in 2009–10 and 2015–16; in 2011–12 and 2015–16, they finished third in the group and dropped down to the UEFA Europa League, while in 2009–10, United topped the group.
| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance | Group position |
| 12 September 2017 | Basel | H | 3–0 | Fellaini 35', Lukaku 53', Rashford 84' | 73,854 | 1st |
| 27 September 2017 | CSKA Moscow | A | 4–1 | Lukaku (2) 4', 27', Martial 19' (pen.), Mkhitaryan 57' | 29,073 | 1st |
| 18 October 2017 | Benfica | A | 1–0 | Rashford 64' | 57,684 | 1st |
| 31 October 2017 | Benfica | H | 2–0 | Svilar 45' (o.g.), Blind 78' (pen.) | 74,437 | 1st |
| 22 November 2017 | Basel | A | 0–1 | | 36,000 | 1st |
| 5 December 2017 | CSKA Moscow | H | 2–1 | Lukaku 64', Rashford 66' | 74,669 | 1st |
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | MUN | BSL | CSKA | BEN |
| 1 | Manchester United | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 3 | +9 | 15 | Advance to knockout phase | — | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 |
| 2 | Basel | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 5 | +6 | 12 | Advance to knockout phase | 1–0 | — | 1–2 | 5–0 |
| 3 | CSKA Moscow | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 10 | −2 | 9 | Transfer to Europa League | 1–4 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 |
| 4 | Benfica | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 14 | −13 | 0 | | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | — |

### Knockout phase

After winning their group and progressing to the round of 16, United were drawn against Spanish club Sevilla in the first competitive meeting between the two sides. After a goalless draw in the first leg at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, Sevilla took the lead in the tie late in the second leg, when Wissam Ben Yedder scored twice within minutes of coming on as a substitute. Romelu Lukaku pulled one back for United six minutes from the end, but they were unable to score the two further goals required to avoid elimination.
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 21 February 2018 | Round of 16 First leg | Sevilla | A | 0–0 | | 39,725 |
| 13 March 2018 | Round of 16 Second leg | Sevilla | H | 1–2 | Lukaku 84' | 74,909 |

## Squad statistics

| No. | Pos. | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Europe | Europe | Other | Other | Total | Total | Discipline | Discipline |
| No. | Pos. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | | |
| 1 | GK | David de Gea | 37 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | Victor Lindelöf | 13(4) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25(4) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Eric Bailly | 11(2) | 1 | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15(3) | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | Phil Jones | 23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Marcos Rojo | 8(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11(1) | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | Paul Pogba | 25(2) | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3(2) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33(4) | 6 | 6 | 1 |
| 7 | FW | Alexis Sánchez | 12 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Juan Mata | 23(5) | 3 | 4(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33(7) | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Romelu Lukaku | 33(1) | 16 | 3(3) | 5 | 0(2) | 0 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 45(6) | 27 | 4 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | Zlatan Ibrahimović | 1(4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2(5) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | Anthony Martial | 18(12) | 9 | 1(3) | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4(4) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 26(19) | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | DF | Chris Smalling | 28(1) | 4 | 5 | 0 | 2(1) | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 44(2) | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | Jesse Lingard | 20(13) | 8 | 4(2) | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3(3) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30(18) | 13 | 5 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | Andreas Pereira | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | Michael Carrick (c) | 1(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | Daley Blind | 4(3) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14(3) | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | Ashley Young | 28(2) | 2 | 3(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35(3) | 2 | 9 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | Marcus Rashford | 17(18) | 7 | 3(2) | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3(5) | 3 | 0(1) | 0 | 26(26) | 13 | 7 | 0 |
| 20 | GK | Sergio Romero | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | Ander Herrera | 13(13) | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25(14) | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | Henrikh Mkhitaryan | 11(4) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 3(1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 16(6) | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 23 | DF | Luke Shaw | 8(3) | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1(2) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14(5) | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 25 | DF | Antonio Valencia | 31 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 3 | 10 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | Marouane Fellaini | 5(11) | 4 | 0(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2(1) | 1 | 0(1) | 0 | 7(16) | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 29 | FW | James Wilson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | MF | Nemanja Matić | 35(1) | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0(1) | 0 | 6(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46(3) | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| 35 | DF | Demetri Mitchell | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | DF | Matteo Darmian | 5(3) | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12(5) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 38 | DF | Axel Tuanzebe | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(2) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 39 | MF | Scott McTominay | 7(6) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2(1) | 0 | 2(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14(9) | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 40 | GK | Joel Castro Pereira | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 43 | DF | Cameron Borthwick-Jackson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 45 | GK | Kieran O'Hara | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 47 | MF | Angel Gomes | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 48 | MF | Ethan Hamilton | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | – | 1 | – | 0 | – | 0 | – | 1 | – | 0 | – | 2 | – | – |
Statistics accurate as of 19 May 2018.

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos. | Name | From | Fee |
| 1 July 2017 | DF | Victor Lindelöf | Benfica | Undisclosed |
| 10 July 2017 | FW | Romelu Lukaku | Everton | Undisclosed |
| 31 July 2017 | MF | Nemanja Matić | Chelsea | Undisclosed |
| 24 August 2017 | FW | Zlatan Ibrahimović | Unattached | Unattached |
| 22 January 2018 | FW | Alexis Sánchez | Arsenal | Undisclosed |

### Out

| Date | Pos. | Name | To | Fee |
| 30 June 2017 | FW | Zlatan Ibrahimović | Released | Released |
| 30 June 2017 | FW | Kayne Diedrick-Roberts | Released | Released |
| 30 June 2017 | MF | Faustin Makela | Released | Released |
| 30 June 2017 | MF | Josh Harrop | Preston North End | Undisclosed |
| 9 July 2017 | FW | Wayne Rooney | Everton | Undisclosed |
| 12 July 2017 | MF | Adnan Januzaj | Real Sociedad | Undisclosed |
| 12 August 2017 | DF | Guillermo Varela | Peñarol | Undisclosed |
| 22 January 2018 | MF | Henrikh Mkhitaryan | Arsenal | Undisclosed |
| 22 March 2018 | FW | Zlatan Ibrahimović | Released | Released |
| 3 April 2018 | DF | Harry Spratt | Huddersfield Town | Free |
| 3 April 2018 | DF | Jake Barrett | Huddersfield Town | Free |

### Loan out

| Date from | Date to | Pos. | Name | To |
| 7 July 2017 | 30 June 2018 | DF | Regan Poole | Northampton Town |
| 10 July 2017 | 30 June 2018 | GK | Dean Henderson | Shrewsbury Town |
| 14 July 2017 | 30 June 2018 | GK | Sam Johnstone | Aston Villa |
| 28 July 2017 | January 2018 | MF | Devonte Redmond | Scunthorpe United |
| 7 August 2017 | 16 January 2018 | DF | Cameron Borthwick-Jackson | Leeds United |
| 10 August 2017 | 30 June 2018 | DF | Timothy Fosu-Mensah | Crystal Palace |
| 31 August 2017 | 31 January 2018 | MF | Matty Willock | Utrecht |
| 1 September 2017 | 30 June 2018 | MF | Andreas Pereira | Valencia |
| 10 January 2018 | 30 June 2018 | FW | James Wilson | Sheffield United |
| 11 January 2018 | 30 June 2018 | DF | Demetri Mitchell | Heart of Midlothian |
| 25 January 2018 | 30 June 2018 | DF | Axel Tuanzebe | Aston Villa |
| 31 January 2018 | 30 June 2018 | MF | Matty Willock | St Johnstone |
| 31 January 2018 | 30 June 2018 | DF | Charlie Scott | Hamilton Academical |