The 2023–24 season was the 137th in the history of Manchester United, their 32nd season in the Premier League and their 49th consecutive season in the top flight of English football. It was the club's second season under the management of Erik ten Hag.
A campaign marred by injuries saw the club finish eighth in the Premier League, their worst position since 1989–90, with a negative goal difference. United were knocked out of the EFL Cup in the fourth round by the previous season's final opponents, Newcastle United, and recorded their worst-ever Champions League group stage performance, finishing bottom of their group with just four points. In the FA Cup they almost suffered a humiliating exit at the hands of second tier Coventry City in the semi final, throwing away a 3–0 lead before winning on penalties. This meant they reached the final for the second consecutive season where they faced cross-city rivals Manchester City in a repeat of the previous year's showpiece. In a match they were widely considered underdogs, United won 2–1, marking the first time since 2017 that they won a trophy in consecutive seasons.
This was the first season since 2010–11 without goalkeeper David de Gea and defender Phil Jones, both of whom left the club upon the expiry of their contracts. With their departures, United were initially without a Premier League winner in their squad for the first time since the competition's inaugural season in 1992–93, and without a player who had played under Sir Alex Ferguson for the first time since 1974. However, the re-signing of Jonny Evans, who won three Premier League titles with the club between 2006 and 2015, meant that was no longer the case.
On 24 December, Manchester United announced that the club had agreed a deal with Sir Jim Ratcliffe to purchase a 25% stake in the club. On 20 February, the investment was confirmed as complete, with Trawlers Ltd acquiring a 27.7% share in the club.
Pre-season and friendlies On 27 March 2023, United announced a tour of the United States, with friendly matches against Wrexham – who are co-owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney and who also had former United goalkeeper Ben Foster in their squad – in San Diego, and Borussia Dortmund in Las Vegas. On 12 May, the club announced their third and fourth pre-season friendlies in the US against fierce rivals Arsenal in New York City, and in Houston against Real Madrid, which will be played one day after Wrexham game. A fifth friendly, the first based in the UK, against Lyon in Edinburgh was also added to the pre-season calendar. On 25 May, the club announced a friendly against Roses rivals and EFL Championship club Leeds United in Oslo. A seventh match, against Athletic Bilbao in Dublin, was announced on 13 June. On 29 June, the club announced a home friendly against French club Lens, to be played the day before the match against Athletic Bilbao.
United won their first match of pre-season against Leeds 2–0, thanks to second-half goals from substitutes Noam Emeran and Joe Hugill, while Donny van de Beek's goal against Lyon gave them their second win in Edinburgh. In the first game of the United States tour, first-half goals from newly appointed captain Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho gave United a 2–0 win over Arsenal; they also won the post-match exhibition penalty shoot-out 5–3. With their match against Real Madrid scheduled for Houston the next day, United fielded a team made up largely of under-21 players against Wrexham on 25 July. They went 2–0 down in the first half, though Marc Jurado pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time; however, Dan Gore was sent off early in the second half and a third Wrexham goal completed a 3–1 defeat for United. They then suffered a second loss in as many days when goals from Jude Bellingham and Joselu gave Real Madrid a 2–0 win in Houston; newly signed goalkeeper André Onana made his debut in the game, playing the full 90 minutes. Manchester United's tour of the United States ended with a 3–2 defeat against Borussia Dortmund at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on 31 July. Diogo Dalot put United ahead in the 24th minute, but Donyell Malen scored twice in two minutes just before half-time to give Dortmund the lead. Antony levelled the scores before Youssoufa Moukoko secured the win for the Germans.
The Reds returned to winning ways with a 3–1 comeback win over Lens at Old Trafford. Florian Sotoca put the visitors ahead after chipping Onana from the edge of the centre circle in the first half, before Marcus Rashford, Antony and Casemiro scored in the second period to turn the game around for United. The following day, a second string United side drew 1–1 with Athletic Bilbao in Dublin. The La Liga team scored first through Nico Williams, but an added time equaliser from Facundo Pellistri meant that United ended their pre-season campaign with a draw.
DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance12 July 2023Leeds UnitedN2–0Emeran 67', Hugill 81'21,02119 July 2023LyonN1–0Van de Beek 49'48,48422 July 2023ArsenalN2–0Fernandes 30', Sancho 37'82,26225 July 2023WrexhamN1–3Jurado 45+6'34,24826 July 2023Real MadridN0–267,80130 July 2023Borussia DortmundN2–3Dalot 24', Antony 52'50,8575 August 2023LensH3–1Rashford 49', Antony 53', Casemiro 59'70,0006 August 2023Athletic BilbaoN1–1Pellistri 90+3'50,238
Premier League The 2023–24 Premier League fixtures were released on 15 June 2023.
The league season began with a home win against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 14 August. After a scoreless first half, Raphaël Varane scored the game's only goal with a 76th-minute header. Named in the starting line-up, Mason Mount and André Onana made their debuts for United. Five days later, United suffered an away defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. Pape Matar Sarr opened the scoring for the home side in the 49th minute, and an own goal from Lisandro Martínez doubled their lead seven minutes from the end. United then hosted Nottingham Forest the following weekend, coming into the match on a 30-game unbeaten run at home; however, that streak was put in jeopardy as United conceded two goals in the opening five minutes. Christian Eriksen pulled one back in the first half, before Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes secured the comeback win with a goal each either side of a second-half red card for Forest's Joe Worrall.
The month of September started with a loss away to Arsenal. Marcus Rashford struck first, but Martin Ødegaard levelled the score 35 seconds after restart of the game. In the second half, a VAR check saw an Arsenal penalty claim overturned and another check led to an effort by Alejandro Garnacho being ruled out as offside. The Gunners then struck twice in injury time to win the match. Following an international break, United hosted Brighton & Hove Albion; their 31-game unbeaten run at home ended with former United player Danny Welbeck scoring the opening goal. In the second half, Brighton scored two more goals, though substitute Hannibal Mejbri scored a consolation goal in the 73rd-minute from outside the box, marking his first goal of the season. The Red Devils would then win against Burnley away the following weekend, Bruno Fernandes scoring the only goal with a 45th-minute volley that would later win Premier League Goal of the Month. The month of September closed with a 1–0 defeat to Crystal Palace at home, marking back-to-back defeats at home for the Reds.
Manchester United would host Brentford at home to kick off October, where Mathias Jensen's first-half effort for the Bees saw them lead 1–0, threatening to make it United's third consecutive loss at home for the first time since the 1978-79 season. However, with three minutes of stoppage-time left, Scott McTominay was brought on and scored two goals within three minutes, salvaging a win for the Reds. Two weeks later United travelled to Sheffield United, wearing black armbands in remembrance of Sir Bobby Charlton, following the earlier news of his passing. Scott McTominay opened the scoring in the first half, but the home-team quickly responded via a penalty from Oli McBurnie. With the scoreline level until the 77th-minute, Diogo Dalot fired home his first goal of the season beyond the penalty area to win the match. The month closed with United hosting rivals Manchester City; Erling Haaland put City ahead with a penalty in the first half after Rasmus Højlund was penalised for dragging down Rodri inside the box. After Onana saved a far-post header from Haaland, a near-identical play saw Haaland double City's lead before half-time courtesy of a cross from Bernardo Silva. In the 86th minute, Phil Foden scored the third goal, cementing a 3–0 defeat for United.
Matches DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendanceLeagueposition14 August 2023Wolverhampton WanderersH1–0Varane 76'73,3587th19 August 2023Tottenham HotspurA0–261,91012th26 August 2023Nottingham ForestH3–2Eriksen 17', Casemiro 52', Fernandes 76' (pen.)73,5958th3 September 2023ArsenalA1–3Rashford 27'60,19211th16 September 2023Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–3Mejbri 73'73,59213th23 September 2023BurnleyA1–0Fernandes 45'21,5939th30 September 2023Crystal PalaceH0–173,42810th7 October 2023BrentfordH2–1McTominay (2) 90+3', 90+7'73,45310th21 October 2023Sheffield UnitedA2–1McTominay 28', Dalot 77'31,5438th29 October 2023Manchester CityH0–373,5028th4 November 2023FulhamA1–0Fernandes 90+1'24,4158th11 November 2023Luton TownH1–0Lindelöf 59'73,5996th26 November 2023EvertonA3–0Garnacho 3', Rashford 56' (pen.), Martial 75'39,2576th2 December 2023Newcastle UnitedA0–152,2147th6 December 2023ChelseaH2–1McTominay (2) 19', 69'73,6076th9 December 2023BournemouthH0–373,4276th17 December 2023LiverpoolA0–057,1587th23 December 2023West Ham UnitedA0–264,4728th26 December 2023Aston VillaH3–2Garnacho (2) 59', 71', Højlund 82'73,5747th30 December 2023Nottingham ForestA1–2Rashford 78'29,5298th14 January 2024Tottenham HotspurH2–2Højlund 3', Rashford 40'73,4897th1 February 2024Wolverhampton WanderersA4–3Rashford 5', Højlund 22', McTominay 75', Mainoo 90+7'31,6417th4 February 2024West Ham UnitedH3–0Højlund 23', Garnacho (2) 49', 84'73,6126th11 February 2024Aston VillaA2–1Højlund 17', McTominay 86'42,1856th18 February 2024Luton TownA2–1Højlund (2) 1', 7'11,4836th24 February 2024FulhamH1–2Maguire 89'73,4876th3 March 2024Manchester CityA1–3Rashford 8'55,0976th9 March 2024EvertonH2–0Fernandes 12' (pen.), Rashford 36' (pen.)73,6016th30 March 2024BrentfordA1–1Mount 90+6'17,1386th4 April 2024ChelseaA3–4Garnacho (2) 34', 67', Fernandes 39'39,6946th7 April 2024LiverpoolH2–2Fernandes 50, Mainoo 67'73,5226th13 April 2024BournemouthA2–2Fernandes (2) 31', 65' (pen.)11,2297th24 April 2024Sheffield UnitedH4–2Maguire 42', Fernandes (2) 61' (pen.), 81', Højlund 85'73,5496th27 April 2024BurnleyH1–1Antony 79'73,5716th6 May 2024Crystal PalaceA0–425,1908th12 May 2024ArsenalH0–173,6008th15 May 2024Newcastle UnitedH3–2Mainoo 31', Diallo 57', Højlund 84'73,5828th19 May 2024Brighton & Hove AlbionA2–0Dalot 73', Højlund 88'31,6628th
League table
FA Cup As a Premier League side, United entered the 2023–24 FA Cup in the third round and were drawn away to Wigan Athletic, with the match to be played on 8 January 2024. United won 2–0 thanks to a long-range strike from Diogo Dalot in the first half, followed by a Bruno Fernandes penalty. They were then drawn against either Newport County or Eastleigh in the fourth round. Newport were confirmed as their opponents when they beat Eastleigh 3–1 in a replay on 16 January 2024. On 28 January, United won at Rodney Parade 4–2 courtesy of goals from Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Antony and Rasmus Højlund. On the same day, Bristol City or Nottingham Forest were drawn as their next opponents, with the match taking place on 28 February. On 7 February, Nottingham Forest were confirmed as United's next opponents thanks to their 5–3 win on penalties. United won at City Ground 1–0 thanks to a late effort from Casemiro.