Manchester United are officially out of this year’s UEFA Champions League tournament after a 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the final group stage game, a result which saw them not only exit the competition but break yet another unwanted record under Erik ten Hag.
With just four points in six games to their name, Man United have officially recorded their worst-ever Champions League performance in club history.
Despite having scored 12 goals over the course of half a dozen matches — the same amount as Bayern, whose single goal on Wednesday night was enough to bury any hope of the Reds remaining in Europe — they also conceded 15, the most by a Premier League side in any group stage of the competition.
It’s also only the second time ever they have finished bottom of their group; the last time they did so was in the 2005/06 season, taking six points and only coming last after conceding two more goals than Lille.
Man United make history once again 👀
They become the first English club to concede 15 #UCL goals!
To make that stat even more damning, only two other English sides (Manchester City and Blackburn) have ever finished bottom of their UCL group, making United the only team to have now picked up that unwanted record twice.
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Having only returned to the top-flight European competition this season, fans were by no means expecting anything miraculous but will have certainly been hoping to make it through to the knockouts. However, history since Sir Alex Ferguson shows that even that isn’t always a given anymore.
The Red Devils have now been knocked out in the group stages in three out of the seven seasons they have spent in the Champions League since Fergie retired — the same number of times that happened in his entire tenure — and have only made it as far as the quarter-finals.
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But the stats just keep coming, as the defeat against the Bundesliga giants also marked their 12th in all competitions, the same number of matches they lost in the entire 22/23 season. Unfortunately for Erik ten Hag, it seems Man United’s long list of unwanted records just keeps growing at the minute.
The manager insisted that he thought many of the performances on Wednesday were good but did admit that they “didn’t lose it today”, i.e. having thrown away multiple 2-0 leads in the previous fixtures and making result-defining errors throughout this year’s Champions League campaign.
Having finished bottom of the group, this also means that they won’t be playing in UEFA’s second-rate competition, the Europa League, for the rest of the season either and with now just the FA Cup and a very tall order of the Premier League to fight for, the chance of consecutive silverware looks slim.
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Even more concerningly for Reds, though, ten Hag’s team face Liverpool away at Anfield on Sunday, with Jurgen Klopp’s side currently sitting top of the table and with the highest goal difference in the league — not to mention Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw were both withdrawn due to injuries.
United might have been the most in-form team in the Prem a few games back but now that stat belongs to their historic rivals, they’re even more injury-riddled than they were a week ago and they’ve had more than a few disappointing derby days at home of late, let alone on Merseyside.
Featured Images — Manchester United (via Instagram)
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Manchester United to wear special one-off shirt for important awareness campaign
Danny Jones
Just to pre-empt any Manchester United fans fearing they’re still in total delirium the next time they see that iconic red shirt, we can confirm it isn’t just your rose-tinted glasses deceiving you – the club will be wearing a special one-off shirt with a notable difference very soon.
All eyes may now be on Wednesday, 21 May but this limited edition kit has already caught the eye of many supporters for one very obvious reason.
In case you haven’t seen it for yourselves already, Man United have confirmed that both the men’s and women’s squads will be will be wearing a slight variation on their home shirt for their next two matches as part of a special campaign for an important charitable cause.
Joining forces with their usual primary shirt sponsors Snapdragon and global health campaigners Product RED, this one-off alternative strip will be unveiled on the pitch this week.
Product Red, or simply (RED) as it will read on the jersey itself, is a worldwide charity that’s been working to fight global health crises since 2006.
(RED)’s key aim is to end the AIDS epidemic and related injustices by raising money for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
The organisation officially partnered with the club and Snapdragon back in January in an effort to help drive awareness and generate further backing for their work – it just so happens that teaming up with one the planet’s biggest brands and one synomyous with that colour made for the perfect collaboration.
With that in mind, putting together a one-off Man United kit with (RED) slap bang in the middle as is close to a commercial/charitable tap-in as you’re probably ever going to get.
Set to be debuted by Manchester United Women in their WSL fixutre against Arsenal this Saturday, 10 May and then again by Ruben Amorim’s side in the Premier League the following day (Sun, 11 May); plus, a select few limited edition replicas shirts will be made available for fans to purchase.
Be first in the know, Reds 👀
Get notified when our limited-edition @RED collection drops ⤵️#MUFC || @Snapdragon
It goes without saying that given the nature of the front-of-shirt sponsor swap, these will no doubt become somewhat of a special item among kit collectors from the off.
More importantly, however, the funds raised through selling these one-off Man United shirts will provide much-needed income for the non-profit and their crucial efforts.
The unveiling of the comes not long after the bedlam that ensued inside Old Trafford during the second leg against Athletic Club, in which United booked their return trip back to Bilbao for the Europa League final, leaving plenty of fans of seeing nothing but the colour red ever since.
MUWFC also sealed their spot in the Women’s Champions League next season to with an important point in the Manchester Derby this past weekend, confirming a finish above Man City this year.
Safe to say it’s been a good few days to be a (RED).
AO Arena to host huge Europa League Final fan zone after Manchester United victory
Daisy Jackson
Manchester’s legendary AO Arena will once again host an almighty football fan zone later this year, welcoming in fans for the Europa League Final.
The huge venue previously hosted a Road to Victory fan zone for the Euros, and is now ready to replicate all the atmosphere and excitement of the beautiful game once again.
This time it’s in honour of Manchester United, who romped their way into the Europa League Final this evening with a spectacular 4-1 victory (7-1 on aggregate) over Athletic Club.
The Red Devils will be heading to that same team’s home stadium of San Mamés in Bilbao in Spain on 21 May 2025, and you’ll be able to watch all the action right here at home in Manchester.
The AO Arena Europa League Final Screening & Fan Zone will be presented by Red Square.
If you think that name rings a bell, you’re right: they’re the same folks behind the regular events held over at Victoria Warehouse for any big United games, and 21 May will be no different – other than being arguably their biggest date ever.
There’ll be space for thousands upon thousands of football fans who’ll be able to watch Ruben Amorim’s side potentially take home their first piece of silverware since his arrival.
If you saw the scenes at Road to Victory in the AO during Euro 2024, you’ll know how unbelievable a venue this is to watch the footy.
As the promoters have billed it: “Get ready to immerse yourself in the electrifying atmosphere of the Europa League Final, presented by Red Square.
“Join us for an unforgettable event as we bring together passionate Manchester United fans for the largest indoor fan park extravaganza ever witnessed!
“MANCHESTER UNITED head to the UEL final on Wednesday, 21st May – Secure your tickets now!”
The Europa League Final Screening & Fan Zone will be at the AO Arena on 21 May.