The 2015–16 season was Manchester United's 24th season in the Premier League, and their 41st consecutive season in the top flight of English football. Along with the Premier League, the club also competed in the FA Cup, Football League Cup, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. The season saw Manchester United win a then record-equalling 12th FA Cup with a 2–1 victory over Crystal Palace in the 2016 FA Cup Final.
Pre-season and friendlies
Manchester United announced a shortened pre-season tour of the United States on 28 April 2015. The first match against Mexican side Club América was played on 17 July at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, and was followed, four days later, by a game against Major League Soccer's San Jose Earthquakes at the Earthquakes' home ground, Avaya Stadium in San Jose. It was originally scheduled to be played at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, but it was moved to reduce the amount of travelling the team would have to do. Four days later, Manchester United faced European champions Barcelona at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, before completing the campaign at Chicago's Soldier Field with a game against Paris Saint-Germain.
DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance17 July 2015Club AméricaN1–0Schneiderlin 5'46,85721 July 2015San Jose EarthquakesA3–1Mata 32', Depay 36', A. Pereira 61'18,00025 July 2015BarcelonaN3–1Rooney 8', Lingard 65', Januzaj 90'68,41629 July 2015Paris Saint-GermainN0–261,351
Premier League
August The fixtures for this league season were announced on 17 June 2015 at 09:00 BST. Manchester United began their campaign with a 1–0 win at home to Tottenham Hotspur on 8 August, with an own goal from Kyle Walker proving the difference between the two teams.
United then went top of the League for the first time since August 2013 with another 1–0 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park the following Friday; Adnan Januzaj's goal in the 29th minute was his first since April 2014. The game had moved to Friday for policing reasons due to an English Defence League march in nearby Walsall the following day, a decision which also gave United an extra day to prepare for their UEFA Champions League play-off against Club Brugge. United kept a third clean sheet in a row at home to Newcastle United on 22 August, but the forwards were unable to find the net and the match finished as a goalless draw.
In the final fixture before the first international break, United conceded their first goals of the season as they lost 2–1 to Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium. After going ahead early in the second half through Juan Mata, they conceded twice in five minutes just after the hour mark, first to a header from André Ayew, who then provided the assist for Bafétimbi Gomis.
September Following the international break, Manchester United returned to action with a home match against Liverpool. The first half was goalless, but goals from Daley Blind and Ander Herrera gave them the lead going into the last ten minutes. Christian Benteke then pulled one back for Liverpool with a bicycle kick before deadline day signing Anthony Martial scored a debut goal to seal a 3–1 win. Martial continued his scoring when United won 3–2 away to Southampton. Graziano Pellè first gave Southampton the lead before Martial scored a brace; the first goal before halftime and the second goal after. United also added a third goal from Juan Mata before Pellè could score his second and the final goal of the match.
On 26 September, United went on top of the league again after beating Sunderland at home. Memphis Depay opened the scoring in first half stoppage time and Wayne Rooney scored 40 seconds into the second half – ending his longest barren spell in the Premier League after not scoring in 11 matches – before Juan Mata scored the final goal in the last minute of regular time to secure a 3–0 win.
October In their next match, 4 October, the last match before a new international break, United suffered a 3–0 defeat against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium, which was their worst defeat against the Gunners in the league for 17 years. Arsenal drew first blood through an Alexis Sánchez goal in the sixth minute before Mesut Özil added to the score barely 74 seconds later. Sánchez completed his brace in the 19th minute to condemn United to their second loss in the League this season, which made United drop to third in the league standings, behind Arsenal on goal difference.
After the international break, United travelled to Goodison Park to play Everton. After having lost 3–0 at the stadium the previous season, they won by the same scoreline after two early goals from Morgan Schneiderlin, Ander Herrera and a goal in the 62nd minute from United captain and former Everton player Wayne Rooney.
Their next match was the Manchester derby against Manchester City at Old Trafford. The match ended goalless, for the first time since 2010. Their next game, against Crystal Palace ended goalless as well, meaning United were down to fourth place at the end of the month.
November United's first match of November saw them beat West Bromwich Albion 2–0 at Old Trafford. Jesse Lingard scored his first goal for the club seven minutes into the second half. In the first minute of stoppage time, West Brom went down to ten men after Gareth McAuley was sent off following a foul on Anthony Martial, which gave United a penalty, which Juan Mata took to seal the win for United.
After another international break, United faced Watford at Vicarage Road for the first time since 2006. Memphis Depay opened the scoring in the 11th minute after he volleyed a cross from Ander Herrera. Watford equalised late on through a Troy Deeney penalty, but then he put it into his own goal in stoppage time to give United back–to–back victories. On the following Saturday, they travelled to the King Power Stadium to play Leicester City. Jamie Vardy opened the scoring in the 24th minute, scoring in his 11th consecutive game. Bastian Schweinsteiger levelled the match before half–time, and no goals were scored in the second half, meaning both sides shared the points.
December The club's first match of December was a goalless draw against West Ham United at Old Trafford. On 12 December, United travelled to Dean Court to face AFC Bournemouth, who were new to the Premier League. They fell behind after two minutes when Junior Stanislas struck the first goal from a corner. Marouane Fellaini levelled 22 minutes later, but Bournemouth hit back after Joshua King headed home the winner in the 54th minute.
They then suffered a second loss in a row, this time at home to another newly promoted side, this time it was Norwich City. Cameron Jerome headed in the opener seven minutes before half–time, then Alexander Tettey put the visitors 2–0 up in the 54th minute. Martial pulled one back but it was not enough, and it meant United were out of the top four (and, like in the 2013–14 season, when David Moyes was manager, they stayed out for the remainder of the season).
On Boxing Day, United travelled to the Britannia Stadium to face Stoke City. Yet again, it was another defeat, this time it was 2–0, meaning that United lost three matches in a row like what happened in May the previous season. Their final game of 2015 was a goalless draw at home to struggling and defending champions Chelsea. This meant United ended 2015 in sixth position after a run of six league games without a win, their worst run of results since January 1990.
January United started 2016 with a home game against Swansea, and gained revenge on the Swans for their three–straight defeats by winning 2–1. It was United's first win since the away match against Watford in November. Anthony Martial headed in the opener two minutes into the second half. Gylfi Sigurðsson levelled in the 70th minute, but seven minutes later, Wayne Rooney flicked home the winner. Their next match saw them travel to St James' Park to play Newcastle. Rooney scored a penalty in the ninth minute before Jesse Lingard added his name to the scoresheet 29 minutes later. Georgino Wijnaldum pulled one back for Newcastle before half–time, then in the second half, Newcastle scored a penalty courtesy of Aleksandar Mitrović in the 67th minute. Twelve minutes later, Rooney pulled one back for United, but Paul Dummett equalised in the 90th minute, ending the match 3–3.
United returned to winning ways in their next match, defeating arch-rivals Liverpool 1–0, courtesy of a late Wayne Rooney strike. However United struggled initially to build on this victory, losing their next match at home to Southampton, with Charlie Austin scoring a late winner. United were subsequently booed off at full time by their fans. This result left United five points off of the top four at the end of the month.
February United kick-started February in scintillating form, defeating Stoke City 3–0 at Old Trafford. Jesse Lingard, Antony Martial and Wayne Rooney supplied the goals. In the next game, United secured a strong point against Chelsea, drawing 1–1. Jesse Lingard opened the scoring on the hour mark, before a defensive lapse allowed Diego Costa to rescue a point for Chelsea in the closing stages of the match. One week later, United suffered a surprise defeat to relegation-contenders Sunderland, going down 2–1. Anthony Martial cancelled out an early Wahbi Khazri opener, before a De Gea own goal provided Sunderland with the three points.
An injury-hit United however rallied in their next match, gaining a surprise (given the circumstances) victory over Arsenal at Old Trafford, winning 3–2. This game was noticeable for the emergence of Marcus Rashford, who scored a brace on his Premier League debut. Danny Welbeck and Mesut Özil both scored for Arsenal, yet Rashford's brace and a deflected Ander Herrera effort secured the win for United.
March United won their opening fixture in March, defeating a stubborn Watford side 1–0, with Juan Mata securing the three points with an 83rd minute free-kick. However, in the next fixture, United lost 1–0 to West Bromwich Albion. Juan Mata was sent off in the first half, with United struggling with the man disadvantage. This was West Bromwich Albion's first home victory over United in 32 years.
United's next match was away to rivals Manchester City. Both sides were embroiled in a battle for a place in the Champions League. United won the derby, with Marcus Rashford continuing his meteoric rise by scoring the winner. Rashford became the youngest scorer in the history of the Manchester derby after his goal. The win kept the top-four hopes of United alive. Manager Louis Van Gaal also attracted praise for placing his faith in his young squad. This faith reaped dividends as United marched on.
April United maintained momentum by beating Everton 1–0 at the start of April. Anthony Martial continued his fine season by scoring a second-half winner. This win left United just one point behind fourth-placed Manchester City. Yet United were unable to capitalise on their recent gains, losing 3–0 to Tottenham in the next game. This meant United fell further behind City.
Yet United returned to winning ways in their next match – defeating Aston Villa 1–0. Once again, Marcus Rashford scored the winner. United rounded off April with a 2–0 win over Crystal Palace. A Damien Delaney own goal was followed up by a Matteo Darmian effort to keep United in the top-four race.
May United began the final month of the season with a 1–1 home draw against eventual champions Leicester. Anthony Martial gave United an early lead, yet Wes Morgan equalised. Despite dominating possession, United were unable to force a winner. United kept their Champions League hopes alive with a 1–0 away victory over Norwich City. Juan Mata scored the winner.