Manchester United have failed to maintain their usual level since Alex Ferguson’s era as they have now become a shadow of their former selves.
The Red Devils failed to put up a fight against the Blue side of Manchester especially in the second half as they recorded their 5th defeat.
The defeat means that they have lost five times in 10 matches and the Reds have matched an incredible record set by Sir Alex Ferguson.
The record is not a good record for Erik ten Hag, who has been under increasing pressure to turn United’s fortunes around after a disastrous start to the season.
From 2013 (when Sir Alex Ferguson left United) to 2023, Manchester United have lost the same number of games (34) Sir Ferguson lost at Old Trafford in 26 years.
Alex Ferguson left Manchester United 10 years ago and that had made things miserable for Red Devils fans and the club in general.
United look tired and out of it whenever they play and that has heaped a lot of pressure on Erik ten hag who has been at the club since April 2022.
Ferguson, who left in 2012/2013 season, helped the Red Devils win that season’s Premier League title with 11 points above 2nd placed Manchester City.
Little did United fans know that at the time, it would be their last league title for a while and their club will deteriorate to this extent.
City unlike Manchester United signed Pep Guardiola in 2016 and they have gone on to earn 145 more points, winning 60 more league games and scoring 229 more goals.
Manchester United have seen several managers lead their club since Ferguson left and none of them have been able to match up.
David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Hag have all been at the helm of affairs at the club.
However, none of them have been able to do something extra ordinary, with Jose Mourinho, being the better amongst them.
Wayne Rooney said in his documentary from 2022 that “Alex Ferguson knew where the club was going and he got out of there as quick as he could, and they’re still picking up the pieces now.”
No one can sustain the record of Alex Ferguson at Manchester United with people predicting United’s drop-off to be just as dramatic as it has turned out.
Although Ten Hag appeared to have put Manchester United back on the right track the previous season, he has encountered some difficulties this year.
United, who is presently ranked eight in the standings, could miss out on playing in the Champions League next season.
Futballnews has selected nine startling statistics that demonstrate United’s downfall since Ferguson’s 2013 departure.
Manchester United Decline Since Ferguson’s Exit
- Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in the Premier League, United has now lost 34 home games, equal to the number of losses he had during his 26-year tenure at the club.
- With five losses from their first 10 league games this season, United has lost half of its games in the Premier League—their highest number of losses from a league campaign since 1986–87.
- Two league goals in 2023–24 have been scored by former United failure Bebe, surpassing the combined totals of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund, Antony, Anthony Martial, and Jadon Sancho.
- Since Ferguson’s retirement, United has only ever finished with more than 80 points in a single season. 16 times when Ferguson was at the club, United ended with 80 or more points.
- In a season following Ferguson, United’s highest goal total was 73 in 2020–21. Ferguson led United to 15 seasons in which the team scored 73 goals or more.
- Under Ferguson, United placed in the top four every season for 21 years in a row throughout the Premier League era. Five of the previous ten seasons have seen United finish outside of the top four since his departure.
- Since Ferguson’s retirement, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Tottenham have all amassed more points than United.
- As of right now, United’s season-ending point total of 57 would be their lowest in the Premier League’s history.
- Ferguson only lost more than five league games eight times during the Premier League era. United has dropped more than five league games in nine of the last ten seasons, and they have already dropped five this year.
