The 2011–12 season was Manchester United's 20th season in the Premier League, and their 37th consecutive season in the top-flight of English football. United were defending Premier League champions, and aimed for an unprecedented 20th league title this season. Furthermore, they were competing in the Champions League for a 16th successive season. In addition, they were competing in the domestic tournaments, the FA Cup and the League Cup.
Manchester United began the season with a 3–2 win over local rivals Manchester City in the Community Shield at Wembley on 7 August 2011.
They were, however, knocked out of the League Cup at the Fifth Round stage for the second successive season after losing 2–1 to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on 30 November 2011.
On 7 December 2011, United lost 2–1 away to Basel, a result which saw them finish third in their Champions League group. This meant that they competed in the UEFA Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup) for the first time since the 1995–96 season. However, they only made it as far as the Round of 16, falling to Athletic Bilbao 5–3 on aggregate.
On 4 January 2012 against Newcastle United, Ryan Giggs broke Sir Bobby Charlton's record for the most starts, the match being Giggs' 757th start.
On 28 January 2012, United were knocked out of the FA Cup in the Fourth Round after losing 2–1 against Liverpool at Anfield.
Going into the final day of the season, on 13 May 2012, United and their local rivals Manchester City were locked together on 86 points at the top of the table, but City led with an eight-goal advantage in goal difference, 63 to 55. United therefore needed to hope for a City slip up to win the title. They were on course to do this, as a Wayne Rooney goal helped United scrape a 1–0 win away at Sunderland, whilst City trailed 2–1 at home to Queens Park Rangers, a score that could potentially hand United their 20th title. However, two goals in stoppage time from Edin Džeko and Sergio Agüero gave City a 3–2 win, pipping United to the title on goal difference, 64 to 56. It was the first time in 23 years that the champions and the runners-up had finished level on points.
The season was the first since 1991–92 without Gary Neville and the first since 2004–05 without Edwin van der Sar, who both retired after the 2010–11 season.
Pre-season and friendlies
Manchester United preceded their 2011–12 campaign with a tour of the United States for the second year in a row. As in 2010, they played in the MLS All-Star Game, in which they took on a team of the best players in Major League Soccer. In the lead-up to this game, which was played on 27 July 2011, United took on the New England Revolution (13 July), the Seattle Sounders (20 July) and the Chicago Fire (23 July), before finishing the tour with a game against Barcelona at FedExField in Washington, D.C., on 30 July.
The club granted a testimonial to Paul Scholes, who retired on 31 May 2011, to honour his 17 years of service to United. The match was played at Old Trafford against New York Cosmos on 5 August 2011. United won the game 6–0 – with Scholes himself opening the scoring the opening goal – to complete an unbeaten pre-season.
The club also granted a testimonial to Harry Gregg, a survivor of the 1958 Munich air disaster, who rescued a 20-month-old girl, her pregnant mother and attempted to revive United manager Sir Matt Busby. The match was played at Windsor Park against Irish League XI on 15 May 2012. The Irish XI was managed by Martin O'Neill and David Jeffrey. United won the game 4–1.
DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance13 July 2011New England RevolutionA4–1Owen 51', Macheda (2) 54', 60', Park 80'51,52320 July 2011Seattle SoundersA7–0Owen 15', Diouf 49', Rooney (3) 51', 69', 72', Park 71', Obertan 88'67,05223 July 2011Chicago FireN3–1Rooney 66', Rafael 76', Nani 82'61,30827 July 2011MLS All-StarsN4–0Anderson 20', Park 45', Berbatov 52', Welbeck 68'26,76030 July 2011BarcelonaN2–1Nani 22', Owen 76'81,8075 August 2011New York CosmosH6–0Scholes 9', Rooney 28' (pen.), Anderson 50', Welbeck 59', Diouf (2) 69', 74'74,73115 May 2012Irish League XIN4–1Evra 20', Young (2) 58', 87', Rooney 64' (pen.)14,098
FA Community Shield
As Premier League champions, United began the season against the holders of the FA Cup, local rivals Manchester City in the Community Shield. The match was played at Wembley on 7 August. This was the first time the Shield had been contested by the two clubs in 55 years. United had most of the possession and more shots on goal in the first half, but it was City who took the lead in the 38th minute when Joleon Lescott nodded in a David Silva free-kick. Edin Džeko then doubled City's lead on the stroke of half-time with a low strike from long-distance. However, seven minutes into the second half, Chris Smalling volleyed home an Ashley Young free-kick to reduce the deficit, and then Nani finished off an intricate passing move involving Wayne Rooney and Tom Cleverley in the 58th minute to bring the score back to 2–2. With a penalty shoot-out looming as the game moved into injury time, Nani forced a mistake from City captain Vincent Kompany, outpaced the defence and rounded goalkeeper Joe Hart before sliding the ball into the empty net to seal United's comeback and their 19th FA Community Shield.
DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance7 August 2011Manchester CityN3–2Smalling 52', Nani (2) 58', 90+4'77,169
Premier League
The fixtures for the 2011–12 league season were announced on 17 June, with United beginning the defence of their title away from home for the first time since 2005–06.
DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendanceLeagueposition14 August 2011West Bromwich AlbionA2–1Rooney 13', Reid 81' (o.g.)25,3603rd22 August 2011Tottenham HotspurH3–0Welbeck 61', Anderson 76', Rooney 87'75,4982nd28 August 2011ArsenalH8–2Welbeck 22', Young (2) 28', 90+1', Rooney (3) 41', 64', 82' (pen.), Nani 67', Park 70'75,4481st10 September 2011Bolton WanderersA5–0Hernández (2) 5', 58', Rooney (3) 20', 25', 68'25,9441st18 September 2011ChelseaH3–1Smalling 8', Nani 37', Rooney 45'75,4551st24 September 2011Stoke CityA1–1Nani 27'27,5821st1 October 2011Norwich CityH2–0Anderson 68', Welbeck 87'75,5141st15 October 2011LiverpoolA1–1Hernández 81'45,0652nd23 October 2011Manchester CityH1–6Fletcher 81'75,4872nd29 October 2011EvertonA1–0Hernández 19'35,4942nd5 November 2011SunderlandH1–0Brown 45+1' (o.g.)75,5702nd19 November 2011Swansea CityA1–0Hernández 11'20,2952nd26 November 2011Newcastle UnitedH1–1Hernández 49'75,5942nd3 December 2011Aston VillaA1–0Jones 20'40,0532nd10 December 2011Wolverhampton WanderersH4–1Nani (2) 17', 56', Rooney (2) 27', 62' 75,6272nd18 December 2011Queens Park RangersA2–0 Rooney 1', Carrick 56'18,0332nd21 December 2011FulhamA5–0Welbeck 5', Nani 28', Giggs 43', Rooney 88', Berbatov 90'25,7002nd26 December 2011Wigan AthleticH5–0Park 8', Berbatov (3) 41', 58', 78' (pen.), Valencia 75'75,1832nd31 December 2011Blackburn RoversH2–3Berbatov (2) 52', 62'75,1462nd4 January 2012Newcastle UnitedA0–352,2992nd14 January 2012Bolton WanderersH3–0Scholes 45+1', Welbeck 74', Carrick 83'75,4442nd22 January 2012ArsenalA2–1Valencia 45+1', Welbeck 81'60,0932nd31 January 2012Stoke CityH2–0Hernández 38' (pen.), Berbatov 53' (pen.)74,7192nd5 February 2012ChelseaA3–3Rooney (2) 58' (pen.), 69' (pen.), Hernández 84'41,6682nd11 February 2012LiverpoolH2–1Rooney (2) 47', 50'74,8441st26 February 2012Norwich CityA2–1Scholes 7', Giggs 90+2'26,8112nd4 March 2012Tottenham HotspurA3–1Rooney 45', Young (2) 60', 69'36,0342nd11 March 2012West Bromwich AlbionH2–0Rooney (2) 35', 71' (pen.)75,5981st18 March 2012Wolverhampton WanderersA5–0Evans 21', Valencia 43', Welbeck 45+1', Hernández (2) 56', 61'27,4941st26 March 2012FulhamH1–0Rooney 42'75,5701st2 April 2012Blackburn RoversA2–0Valencia 81', Young 86'26,5321st8 April 2012Queens Park RangersH2–0Rooney 15' (pen.), Scholes 68'75,5051st11 April 2012Wigan AthleticA0–118,1151st15 April 2012Aston VillaH4–0Rooney (2) 7' (pen.), 73', Welbeck 43', Nani 90+3'75,1381st22 April 2012EvertonH4–4Rooney (2) 41', 69', Welbeck 57', Nani 60'75,5221st30 April 2012Manchester CityA0–147,2592nd6 May 2012Swansea CityH2–0Scholes 28′, Young 41′75,4962nd13 May 2012SunderlandA1–0Rooney 20'46,4522nd
FA Cup
United entered the FA Cup at the Third Round stage with the other Premier League clubs, as well as those from the Championship. The Third Round draw was made on 4 December 2011, and gave United an away match against holders Manchester City. The tie was played on 8 January 2012, and was the 162nd Manchester derby ending in a 3–2 win for United. The match saw the dramatic return of Manchester United legend Paul Scholes from his retirement after last season's Champions League Final against Barcelona. Two goals from Wayne Rooney and one from Danny Welbeck saw United go into the second half 3–0 up and a man up, Vincent Kompany having been sent off after 12 minutes of the first half. However, 10-man Manchester City bounced back immediately after the break with a free kick from Aleksandar Kolarov followed by a close-range goal from Sergio Agüero.
The draw for the Fourth Round took place on 8 January 2012, and gave United a tie against their other strong rivals Liverpool for the second successive season in the FA Cup. The match was played at Anfield on 28 January 2012. United lost 2–1. Daniel Agger's header put Liverpool in front, and Park Ji-sung equalised seven minutes before the break, but Dirk Kuyt's late winner ended United's hopes of winning the famous trophy. United had hit the post through Antonio Valencia in the first half. This loss meant that United still had not won the FA Cup since 2004, or even appeared in a final since 2007.
DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance8 January 2012Round 3Manchester CityA3–2 Rooney (2) 10', 40', Welbeck 30'46,80828 January 2012Round 4LiverpoolA1–2Park 39'43,952
League Cup
As one of eight English clubs who qualified for European competition in the 2010–11 season, United received a bye to the Third Round of the League Cup. The draw took place on 27 August 2011, giving United a trip to Elland Road to take on fierce rivals Leeds United. The match took place on 20 September 2011, where United won 3–0. Sir Alex Ferguson handed a start to debutant Zeki Fryers, 18 years old, and twice early on, Dimitar Berbatov had to clear off the line. But that was the closest the hosts came to causing an upset, as Michael Owen opened the scoring on 15 minutes with a scuffed shot and lashed home a second on 32. Ryan Giggs all but sealed the victory when he played a short corner to Park Ji-sung, got the return ball, nutmegged Robert Snodgrass, and shot past Andrew Lonergan via a deflection off Luciano Becchio. Late on, Ramón Núñez, a Leeds substitute, fluffed the chance to score a consolation for Leeds, firing wide.
The draw for the Fourth Round took place on 24 September 2011, and gave United a trip to the EBB Stadium to take on League Two side Aldershot Town. The match was played on 25 October 2011, with United once again winning 3–0, through goals from Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen, and Antonio Valencia.
The draw for the quarter-finals took place on 29 October 2011, and gave United a home match against Championship side Crystal Palace. Crystal Palace took the lead in the 65th minute, with a 40-yard strike from Darren Ambrose. However, their lead lasted less than four minutes, with Federico Macheda equalising from the penalty spot, after he was fouled himself, in the 69th minute. Despite increasing Manchester United pressure, the match went to extra-time, where Crystal Palace scored a second, with a Glenn Murray header, to put them 2–1 ahead in the 98th minute. The game eventually ended 2–1, with Palace facing Cardiff City in the semi-finals, a game which secured a Championship side in the final.